In response to the economic shock caused by COVID-19, the EU Commission presented a "recovery package for the capital markets" in the summer, which is currently being discussed by the European Parliament. In three analyses the Centre for European Policy has evaluated the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II), the Prospectus Directive and the Securitisation and Capital Adequacy Directive.

Europe is falling further and further behind the United States and China, particularly in the areas of data economy and cloud computing. A cepStudy commissioned by the software provider SAP identifies three priorities and proposes seventeen detailed recommendations for policy measures that will enable the EU to take a leading role in the digital economy.

For the first time, the EU wants to take measures to reduce CO₂ emissions from maritime transport. This cepInput takes stock of the current climate policy situation at global and EU level and assesses the impact of possible measures.

The EU Commission intends to present a new strategy for sustainable financing in the coming months. In spring 2020, it had already held a consultation on the subject. On the basis of the consultation document, the Center for European Policy is examining the ideas that are likely to feed into the new strategy.

A Temporary Framework published by the European Commission sets up the conditions that COVID-19-related state aid measures have to fulfil in order not to violate EU law. This cepInput assesses the impact on competition in the Single Market that the design of the state aid measures contained in the Temporary Framework will have.

In order to provide financial support to Member States to help them cope with the economic consequences of the Corona pandemic, the EU has created the "SURE instrument". In concrete terms, SURE provides temporary support to reduce the risk of unemployment. A cepInput is investigating what to make of the subsidisation of corona-related national short-time work programmes.

The European Commission wants to introduce joint clinical assessments of medicinal products and medical devices at EU level. A cepInput continues the monitoring of the legislative procedure, for which a cepPolicyBrief has already been published in 2018. While the Commission Proposal is supported by Parliament, the Council is divided on this issue.

The role of central banks is a recurring theme in the debate on sustainable finance. The European Central Bank (ECB) also wants to address sustainability in its strategic review. This cepInput makes a proposal on how the ECB can take sustainability into account in its collateral policy. 

As part of its data strategy, the EU Commission wants to create European data spaces for various sectors, including the energy, health and financial sectors. It has announced its plans for this in a Communication.

The Corona crisis is a stress test for the climate policy of the EU and its member states. The cep has examined the various instruments for reducing CO₂ emissions – prohibitions and bans, subsidies, CO₂ tax, emissions trading – with regard to their "crisis resistance".

The EU Commission wants to clarify the legal framework for cryptocurrencies. A cepInput provides an overview of the current state of regulation and examines whether and under which conditions cryptocurrencies are covered by the main provisions regulating the EU financial markets.

The EU Commission has published guidelines on the application of the Professional Qualifications Recognition Directive to address the shortage of doctors and nurses as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. A cepInput evaluates to what extent the guidelines can contribute to combat the increased shortage of skilled workers.

The CJEU is currently hearing a case regarding the French regulation of advertising by pharmacies. A cepInput describes the French regulations, explains the questions of the CJEU proceedings, looks at the Italian and German regulations in comparison and assesses the Opinion of the Advocate General.

The EU Commission wants to create a Single European Data Space for personal, non-personal, public and business data and promote the sharing, use and re-use of data in the EU. It has announced its plans for this in a communication.

With a new Circular Economy Action Plan, the EU Commission wants to create a "circular plastics economy" in the European Union. A cep study evaluates the requirements for implementing the action plan.

The EU Commission is currently reviewing the legal framework for economic governance in the EU, in particular the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP). In order to give the member states more fiscal room for manoeuvre in the corona crisis, the SGP was also suspended in March. A cepInput advocates a simplification of the SGP.