The EU Commission wants to achieve a reduction in the high stocks of non-performing loans. A Directive on credit servicers, credit purchasers and the recovery of collateral aims to prevent a future increase.

As part of a Reform Support Programme, the Commission plans to make available around € 22 billion to EU Member States for structural reforms. For this purpose, the EU Commission has proposed a Regulation.

The European Commission wants to create a more competitive and innovative European financial sector with initiatives on new financial technologies. Therefore it has submitted a FinTech action plan.

Whistleblowers are to be given better protection in the EU which will improve the enforcement of EU law. For this purpose, the EU Commission wants a Directive to create mechanisms with minimum standards to protect whistleblowers against retaliation for reporting breaches of specific EU law.

The provision of early childhood education and care (ECEC) in the EU is to be expanded and its quality improved. The corresponding proposal by the EU Commission for a Council Recommendation relates to children up to compulsory school age, their parents and the staff in ECEC facilities.

On 4 December 2018, the Eurogroup agreed on a reform of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM). In the run-up to forthcoming changes to the ESM Treaty, cep analyses the Eurogroup’s political agreements.

In view of increasing EU-wide violations, the EU-Commission wants to strengthen the enforcement of, and thus improve compliance with, EU consumer protection law. In the context of its “New Deal for Consumers”, it has submitted a corresponding Directive.