The EU Commission wants to change the obligations of the social insurance systems to provide benefits for EU citizens residing in other EU countries. Thus rights acquired in various different Member States can be exported. cep welcomes the fact that payment of unemployment benefit for a period of six months means an unemployed person can spend longer looking for work in another EU country.

Global female migration is a topic frequently studied in academic literature however; the topic of female brain drain is one that has long been neglected by academic research.

The aim of this report is to gather all available information on female brain drain in Poland and Germany and its impact on labour markets, gender equality, female migration, and human capital, while noting the gaps in data and policymaking.

The recast of the Electricity Market Directive aims to give consumers a stronger influence on the retail electricity market and generally protect the market against state intervention. In cep’s view, however, it is misguided for electricity suppliers to have to offer tariffs with dynamic electricity prices when there is no corresponding demand.

The EU Commission wants to create a level playing field for providers of conventional and new types of electronic communications services (OTT services) and largely harmonise end-user rights. In cep's view, there is however no justification for the many proposed exceptions for number-independent interpersonal communications services in the area of end-user rights.

The share of renewable energy in overall EU energy consumption is to increase to 27% by 2030. This is set out in the EU Commission’s Proposal for a Directive to promote energy from renewable sources (“renewables”) post-2021. In cep’s view, the Proposal allows Member States too much scope for developing inefficient and anti-competitive renewables support schemes.

The EU Commission wants to ensure that the energy efficiency of buildings is further increased. The proposed amendment to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive is intended to remove "cumbersome" provisions and speed up the energy-related renovation of existing buildings. In cep's view, linking financial support for building renovation to the energy savings achieved, is an improvement on the status quo.

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome, cep makes an appeal to national and EU politicians as well as to EU citizens.

Based on the realisation that Europe can only succeed together, cep provides a reminder of what has been achieved in the last 60 years, refers to the crises that are currently sending shock waves through the continent and then looks to the future.

The United Kingdom's creditworthiness is declining. This is the result of the latest cepDefault-Index 2017. The main reason for the decline is the population’s high propensity to consume: since 2012, the population of the United Kingdom has consumed more than the total available income. Moreover, the competitiveness of the British economy declined for years.