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

 

 

2014

The Commission wishes to promote the digital single market by setting new framework conditions and removing obstacles. To this end, it presents an action plan.

2014

With its Regulation, the Commission wishes to exempt aid of up to 500,000 Euros for the provision of services of general economic interest (SGEI) from the obligation to obtain approval for the period of three fiscal years. According to the Commission de minimis aid is  unproblematic for they are regarded as measures  which do not distort competition and also do not have a negative effect on trade between Member States.

2014

The Commission wishes to create a unitary European protection law for intellectual properties including digital business models. The Commission’s plans mainly focus on the introduction of an EU unitary patent protection including a European patent litigation system, a modernised EU framework for copyrights and an improved fight against counterfeiting and piracy. 

2014

The Commission proposes a Regulation in order to reform the legal framework for European standardisation to establish an efficient and technically up-to-date European standardisation system. European standardisation means defining technical and quality-related specifications through recognised European standardisation bodies. The legal framework is to be extended to services.

2014

The EU has been granting tariff preferences to developing countries since 1971 to help them improve their performance on the global market and to aid their economic development. The basis for that is the “Scheme of Generalised Tariff Preferences” (GSP). The Commission wishes to revise the existing tariff preference scheme and to suspend a number of countries which until now have been GSP beneficiaries as it deems them competitive at international level. 

2014

The Commission proposes two Regulations regarding the introduction of a unitary patent protection in 25 Member States. Italy and Spain will not be participating in this enhanced cooperation. The Patent Regulation provides for the possibility of granting unitary patent protection to the European patent, which consists of a “bundle” of various national patents, in 25 Member States. The Translation Requirements Regulation contains translation requirements for the EU Patent with unitary effect.

2014

According to the Commission, short-termism and excessive risk-taking endanger sustainable economic growth and the stability of the financial market. To tackle these issues, the Commission proposes to increase shareholders’ participation in corporate decisions and the transparency of asset managers’ and advisors’ activities. Finally the Commission discusses the promotion of women and calls for a women’s quota system.

2014

Citizens, organisations and authorities may comment on the Green Paper and its 114 concrete questions within a consultation procedure. The Commission wishes to reform the tools and methods of public procurement in order to improve teh process and to increase the efficiency of public spending. In future, public procurement is to take into account “policy objectives”, such as the promotion of innovation.

2014

The Commission presents new trade policy measures in order to achieve the growth and employment targets of the Europe 2020 strategy. The Commission is especially keen on the increased opening of foreign markets for services, investments and public procurement. Moreover, the future EU trade policy is support “green growth” and “climate change objectives” in principle.

2014

The Commission wishes to revive the single market with the Single Market Act, incorporating it into the economic strategy “Europe 2020” for sustainable growth and increased employment. The Commission has made 50 proposals, both legislative and non-legislative, which are to be adopted by 2012. The idea is that by “completing, deepening and making full use of the single market” an annual potential growth of 4% of the GDP over the next ten years can be achieved.