With a new packaging regulation the Commission wants to strengthen environmental protection and market opportunities for recycled material. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) sees great potential in an EU-wide circular economy. However, Brussels is only halfway there. Member states may continue to impair the single market with too many national regulations.

European family businesses are groaning under bureaucratic burdens that leads to inefficiencies - first, by the requirements of the European Union itself and second, by the impractical implementation and operation on the national level. Moreover, different rules in individual member states complicate the process.

The EU is under pressure both geopolitically and in terms of its industrial policy, and is in danger of being left behind by the USA and China. Last week, therefore, the Commission presented three draft laws and a communication which aim to strengthen European sovereignty, competitiveness and resilience. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) finds the proposals fragmented and overly bureaucratic.

The Commission of the European Union assesses commission bans for financial products and intends to submit a proposal on 3 May. Supporters of the ban hope for higher transparency, better quality and lower costs. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) considers inducement bans, e.g. those already in force in the Netherlands and Great Britain, as a break of the established business models and pleads for other solutions.

Rare earths, renewable energies, knowledge: In the global competition for secure supply chains, critical resources are increasingly coming into focus. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) recommends that the European Union establishes strategic partnerships with resource-rich third countries. This is preferable compared to subsidy-based policies like the U.S. IRA, which distort global trade.

More rights in damage cases: The Commission has presented a recast of the Product Liability Directive. The directive dates back to 1985 and is to be adapted to digitalisation and the circular economy. In the future, software is to be considered as a product throughout the Union. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) sees the rights of injured parties strengthened, but warns of legal uncertainties and vagueness when looking in the details.

It is essential for Europe's transformation into a digital and sustainable economy to secure supplies of rare metals such as lithium and cobalt. Until now, information on raw material deposits has been patchy and detected at random. On average, only one out of a hundred searches for materials are successful. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) therefore advises using artificial intelligence (AI). According to initial practical tests, the success rate would increase by 25 times and make Europe less dependent on third countries.

Employment contracts, pay slips, proof of medical examination: European family businesses are groaning under bureaucratic  burdens that leads to inefficiencies – first, by the requirements of the European Union itself and second, by the impractical  implementation and operation on the national level. Moreover, different rules in individual member states complicate the process. This can be seen in the posting of workers across national borders.

In mid-March, the Commission plans to present a package of reforms to European pharmaceutical legislation. Antibiotics are a key issue. Misuse of these drugs leads to antimicrobial resistance, so that deadly infections can sometimes no longer be fought with available antibiotics. Acute shortages of certain antibiotics also highlight the need for action. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) has presented the most comprehensive catalogue of measures to date.

Cyberattacks on software and hardware products cause enormous financial losses worldwide, more than 5.5 trillion euros solely in 2021. With the Cyber Resilience Act, the Commission strives to establish uniform cybersecurity rules for manufacturers, importers and distributors of products with digital elements (PWDE). The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) evaluates the draft positively. Exception: the non-transparent differentiation between critical products.

Whether as a substitute for natural gas in heating, for the production of synthetic fuels or as a raw material for the chemical industry: green hydrogen produced by electrolysis with the help of renewable energies is considered the driving force of the energy transition. Since production and use should be as close to each other as possible for a rapid market ramp-up, the Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) sees the North Sea regions of the Netherlands and Germany as a future joint hydrogen centre of the EU – if Brussels' bureaucracy does not become a brake.

European Family Businesses are groaning under the strain of bureaucracy of the European Union, which is full of inconsistencies – on the one hand, because of the requirements of the EU itself and on the other hand, because of its impracticable, domestic implementation. This is visible in the so-called A1 Certificate. The Centres for European Policy Network (cep), the Prognos AG Berlin and the Centre for Industrial Studies Milano issued this study for the Foundation for Family Businesses.

In the EU, emissions of pollutants into the air, water and soil from industrial and livestock facilities are to be reduced. To this end, the Commission has proposed amendments to the Industrial Emissions Directive. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) considers parts of the proposals to be contrary to EU law.

Whether to protect against credit card fraud, to create climate models or to distribute police forces: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is penetrating everyday life ever more deeply. The data required for this mostly comes from phases of relative stability, which cannot be readily applied in times of crisis. The Centre for European Policy (cep) sees this as an underestimated systemic risk - and calls for rules.

Maritime transport accounted for around 2 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2018. This corresponded to about 85 percent of German emissions. Commission, Council and Parliament want to agree on reduction measures for the European Union. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) warns against Brussels going it alone.

Well intended, not well done: The European Union wants to oblige companies to protect human rights and the environment in the EU and third countries - from raw materials to products and their disposal, throughout the entire value chain. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) criticises the Commission's draft directive as too vague.

Blood, plasma and other Substances of Human Origin (SoHOs) are becoming increasingly important, especially in the fight against rare diseases. Since essential products are not sufficiently available in the EU, dependence on imports, especially from the USA, is growing. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) believes that the Commission's goal of providing better care for EU citizens in the future is right - but that some of the planned measures are questionable.