Stable cryptocurrencies, so-called stablecoins, are on the rise. Tech giant Facebook is planning to launch the stablecoin Diem with more than 20 companies such as Spotify and Uber. The company's own crypto-based payment system is expected to emerge this year. The EU is working to create a legal framework.

Stable cryptocurrencies, so-called stablecoins, are on the rise. Tech giant Facebook is planning to launch the stablecoin Diem with more than 20 companies such as Spotify and Uber. The company's own crypto-based payment system is expected to emerge this year. The EU is working to create a legal framework.

There are still high hurdles to overcome on the way to a common deposit insurance scheme for the Eurozone (EDIS), which the EU Commission is striving for. This is the result of an input by the Centre for European Policy (cep) comparing the banking systems of Germany, France and Italy.

The  Centrum für Europäische Politik calls for a change of the EU treaties. According to the Freiburg think tank, the Conference on the Future of Europe should pave the way towards a European Health Union. "The EU treaties should be amended to give the EU additional competences in certain areas," says cep health expert Dr Patrick Stockebrandt.

The "EU Plastic Tax" introduced in 2021 to finance the EU budget is neither an EU tax nor does it oblige member states to levy a national tax on plastic waste. This is the result of a cepInput of the Centres for European Policy Network.

Numerous companies from the EU are still illegally transferring personal data to the USA. This is the result of a study by the Centre for European Policy (cep), which examines the consequences of the ECJ ruling of July 2020.

Despite various lockdowns, the number of COVID-19 infections in the EU remains very high. In order to break the chains of infections and to end the restrictions on the free movement of people, services and goods, the use of contact tracing apps should be made mandatory. The positive effects prevail over data protection concerns.

The European retail payments markets are still highly fragmented and at the same time faced with challenges triggered by innovations such as instant and mobile payments. The EU retail payments strategy suggests policy measures to avoid inconsistencies and further fragmentation of payment markets in Europe.

The Commission is announcing a package of measures with the aim to reset digital education in the Member States in order to equip learners with digital skills. A cepPolicyBrief highlights the central aspects of the Action Plan.

By means of its “Farm To Fork" strategy, the EU Commission wants to create a “food environment” that makes it easier for consumers to choose healthy and sustainable diets. A cepPolicyBrief examines the consumer policy objectives and measures of the strategy.