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

 

 

2019

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.

2019

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.

2018

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.

2018

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.

2018

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.

2018

Following Brexit on 29 March 2019, the United Kingdom will become a "third country". Financial and other companies domiciled in the EU will then no longer be able to easily fulfil their obligation to clear derivatives with "central counterparties" (CCPs) in London. In a cepAdhoc, short and medium-term EU priorities for derivatives clearing are analysed.

2018

By way of an exemption from protection certificates, the EU wants to permit the manufacture of generics and so-called biosimilars for export, even where the original medicine is still protected by a certificate in the EU. Using this exemption, it wants to remedy competitive disadvantages for EU manufacturers and strengthen its generics and biosimilars industry.

2018

The safety of road vehicles as well as vehicle occupants, pedestrians and two-wheel vehicles in the EU is to be improved. For this, the EU Commission proposes a range of new technical requirements for motor vehicles as of 2024. These include the obligation to equip new vehicles with assistance systems.

2018

The protection of workers and the self-employed by social protection schemes is to be improved and harmonised EU-wide. The EU Commission has called for this in a proposal for a Recommendation to the Member States.

2018

The Commission is pressing for a more sustainable financial sector and has therefore submitted an Action Plan on the financing of sustainable growth. This provides inter alia for a classification system for sustainability (“EU taxonomy”) that will provide a basis for “sustainable” action by financial institutions, rating agencies, market analysts and investors.

2018

The EU Commission wants to introduce transparency obligations for online platforms and search engines EU-wide, as well as possibilities for redress for online traders using such online platforms. The EU Commission wants to regulate this by way of a Regulation.

2018

The EU Commission wants to contribute to the promotion of the cross-border sale of investment funds. The corresponding proposals for a regulation and a directive provide, among other things, that so-called undertakings for collective investments in transferable securities (UCITS) and alternative investment funds (AIF) may not be obliged to be "physically present" in the host Member States.

2018

In order to reduce CO2 emissions in the road transport sector, CO2emission targets for lorries are to be introduced for the first time. The EU Commission has therefore submitted a proposal for a Regulation.

2018

A new EU Directive on representative actions for the protection of the collective interests of consumers is to replace the existing Directive on injunctive relief. It is supposed to substantially expand the scope of representative actions in consumer law and thereby to promote the enforcement of consumer law whilst at the same time preventing abusive litigation.

2018

The responsibilities and powers of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) are to be significantly widened. For this purpose, the EU Commission has proposed a Regulation. In addition to ESMA, this will principally affect investment funds, investment firms, trading venues, data reporting services, benchmark administrators and contributors, issuers and of course investors.

2018

The EU wants to help reduce marine pollution caused by plastic products and packaging. For this purpose, the EU Commission has submitted the proposal for a Directive on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment. This would affect consumers, manufacturers and traders in single-use plastic products, the catering sector and fisheries.

2018

The supervision of investment firms in the EU should be more adapted to their respective business models and risks. With this aim, the EU Commission has developed a proposal for a Directive which, by dividing investment firms into three classes, counteracts the consolidation of the sector brought about by regulation.

2018

The EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) for reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) covers only about 45% of EU GHG emissions. Non-covered economic sectors include road transport, buildings, agriculture and waste management. In these sectors, GHG emissions are to be reduced through "effort-sharing" within the EU.