stoa

The STOA Panel forms an integral part of the structure of the European Parliament. It is composed of 27 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) who are nominated by eleven permanent Committees of the Parliament: AGRI, CULT, EMPL, ENVI, IMCO, INTA, ITRE, JURI, LIBE, REGI and TRAN. The EP Vice-President responsible for STOA is a Member of the Panel ex officio. The members of the STOA Panel are appointed for a renewable two-and-a-half-year period. The list of members is available below. The STOA Bureau is comprised of the STOA Chair, the STOA 1st Vice Chair and the STOA 2nd Vice Chair, all three elected by the STOA Panel, and the EP Vice-President responsible for STOA.

The STOA Panel carries the political responsibility for STOA’s work. The Panel decides on all STOA’s activities. In its meetings the Panel reviews progress and hears presentations of ongoing or recently-completed projects. The Panel meetings are open to the public and can be followed via webstreaming. All MEPs are invited to participate, but only Panel members vote.

Ensuring the supply of critical raw materials in the EU

Ensuring the supply of critical raw materials in the EU

From everyday items to cutting-edge technology, critical raw materials (CRM) are an essential part of the EU economy. Yet supply chains are at constant risk of disruption. One reason, is that extracting and processing CRMs often do not take place in the same place. Extraction in one region does not guarantee the availability of the ...

Neurorights: how to protect mental privacy in the area of neuroscience?

Neurorights: how to protect mental privacy in the area of neuroscience?

Neurotechnologies are tools for recording and interpreting brain activity. They aim at rehabilitating, restoring or even modifying brain functions. Neuro-enhancement is the field of improving brain capacity. These methods raise ethical issues. So, does the sector need EU regulation? A new concept of "neurorights" is emerging. They could be defined as ethical and legal principles ...

interview with Aïda Solé-Auró : Back view portrait of active senior couple running on park lane along sea shore outdoors

Interview with Prof. Aïda Solé-Auró on factors that determine healthy ageing

Currently, in response to last year’s Council invitation, the Commission is developing a set of key policy tools to assist Member States in navigating the impacts of an ageing population on Europe’s competitiveness and its society. These plans took the stage in a recent plenary debate in the European Parliament on healthy lifestyles and active ...

Tackling the environmental impact of the textile sector

Tackling the environmental impact of the textile sector

After food, housing and transport, textiles come in fourth place for environmental impact at EU level. Yet textiles are also essential to our daily lives, from clothing and furniture to protective equipment and even buildings and vehicles. How can we reduce this impact and make the textile industry more sustainable and circular? Part of the ...

From left to right: Michael Bruter, Sandra Parthie, Sylvia Kritzinger, Barbara Prainsack and Yves Dejaeghere.

Prof. Sylvia Kritzinger: ‘Europe needs to very seriously take our young citizens into consideration and engage them in politics’

Sylvia Kritzinger is Professor for Methods in the Social Sciences at the University of Vienna (Austria). Her research focuses on citizens’ political attitudes and voting behaviour, democratic representation, and political participation, voting at 16. She participated in this year’s Annual Lecture hosted by the European Parliament’s Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA) ...

Making democracy work for everyone

Making democracy work for everyone

This year many elections are set to be held, but generational gaps, social and economic disparities can lead to inequality in the democratic process. How can we make democracy work for everyone? This was the question that was explored at the Panel for the Future of Science and Technology’s (STOA) Annual Lecture on 24 January ...

Janina Seubert interview: Image with fresh food

Janina Seubert: ‘Studying emotions helps to better understand our food habits’

How might neuroscience help to change producers’ practices and consumers’ choices for more sustainable food? Janina Seubert is an expert in affective neuroscience and human chemosensation at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and a recipient of a European Research Council (ERC) grant. She was one of the ERC-funded researchers who discussed consumer behaviour at a ...

The crucial role of academic freedom in society

Academic Freedom’s Crucial Role in Society

The European Parliament’s Forum for Academic Freedom has launched a video series featuring interviews on the protection of intellectual freedom. In the first three interviews, experts share their insights on the importance of safeguarding this essential principle. Whether they have personally faced limitations on their research or are actively working to uphold scholarly independence, they ...