Publication Archive
This archive contains all documents published by cep over the last few years:
cepAdhoc: Incisive comment on current EU policy issues
cepPolicyBrief: Concise reviews of EU proposals (Regulations, Directives, Green Papers, White Papers, Communications) – including an executive summary
cepInput: Impulse to current challenges of EU policies
cepStudy: Comprehensive examination of EU policy proposals affecting the economy
2017
A White Paper presented by the UK Government on 2 February 2017 outlines the strategy of the United Kingdom for the exit negotiations with the EU. It entails several new notable accents.
2017
The Energy Efficiency Directive of 2012 is to be amended. A stricter, and now also binding, energy savings target of 30% by 2030 will apply in the EU. In order to achieve this target, the Member States will be subject to detailed energy savings obligations. Thus, they will also have to ensure that the energy consumption of end customers falls by 1.5% per year post 2020.
2017
Brexit negotiations could produce a "Ukraine Plus Model". This is the conclusion reached by the authors of the latest cepAdhoc. They compare the British Prime Minister's proposals with agreements which the EU has concluded with other countries.
2016
The EU Commission wants to speed up the deployment of fast telecommunications networks. An access regulation for telecoms network operators with a dominant market position which gives more consideration to competition at retail level will contribute to this. cep welcomes this step but criticises the preferential regulatory treatment given to "very high-capacity networks".
2016
The EU Commission has submitted its proposal to amend the Posting of Workers Directive. The principle of "equal pay for equal work in the same place" will apply to both permanent employees and posted workers. In cep's view, this proposal is in breach of the freedom to provide services in the EU.
2016
The Commission wants to improve cooperation between national consumer protection authorities in combating cross-border infringements of EU consumer protection laws. In cep's view, however, burdensome duties of cooperation should only apply to infringements which could noticeably damage the internal market.
2016
2016
The European Parliament discusses the EU Commission's proposal to introduce an EU deposit guarantee scheme. The cepAdhoc assesses the European Parliament's draft report.
2016
The EU Commission is planning to ban geo-blocking and other discrimination based on nationality, place of residence or establishment in order to improve cross-border online trade in goods and services. In cep's view, the bans will only rarely result in customers buying more across borders.
2016
The EU Commission proposes the introduction of a "Pillar of Social Rights" which is to contain principles for the approximation of the social policies of the Member States. In cep's view, the approximation of social standards is inadvisable because the capacity of the national social systems is too varied.
2016
With a strategy for low-emission mobility, the EU Commission intends to help reduce CO2 emissions and air pollutants caused by transport. In cep's view, the Commission's proposed measures are largely unsuitable for reducing these emissions caused by transport in a manner which is effective and ensures "technology neutrality".
2016
This cepStudy examines the regulatory role of the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) and the EU Commission. cep makes ten recommendations for improving control and scrutiny of the ESAs' and the Commission’s activities at Level 2 and Level 3. These include calling on the Council to strengthen its monitoring structures. The ESAs should only be able to develop guidelines where Parliament and the Council do not object.
2016
On the basis of an EU Commission Regulation, the emissions and removals of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the land use and forestry sector will be fully included into EU climate policy. As a result, the quantity of GHG emissions in this area will no longer be permitted to be greater than the removals of GHGs by way of absorption into the ground or by plants or wood products.
2016
The Commission wants to press ahead with the standardisation of information and communications technology (ICT). It is focussing, in this regard, on the "priorities" of cloud computing, the internet of things, 5G communications, cybersecurity and data technologies. In cep's view, setting priorities is appropriate.
2016
The EU Commission wants to push ahead with the digital transformation of public administrations. In cep's view, cross-border eGovernment services facilitate the mobility of citizens and cross-border business operations. The once-only collection of data from companies and citizens increases the efficiency of public administrations.
2016
The EU Commission will allocate Member States with national targets for reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) in sectors not subject to EU emissions trading (ETS) (e.g. transport and agriculture). It also proposes flexibility options which Member States can use to achieve their national targets.
2016
Calculating redistribution in the European Union has so far been based exclusively on the EU budget. Its figures are used to determine the "net recipients" and "net contributors". In cep's view, this falls short. A comprehensive Study now shows which countries profited most from the redistribution instruments in the EU between 2008 and 2015.