The EU Commission presents its plans on the establishment of a Capital Markets Union. With this, it wants improve access to financing for, in particular, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), increase and diversify the sources of funding for businesses and make capital markets more effective and efficient. The cep has taken a closer look at the Commission’s plans for a Capital Markets Union.

The cep investigates how EU net neutrality rules are best shaped to guarantee innovation. We extend the focus to the upcoming US regulation and conclude with six recommendations to EU policy makers.

From October 2015, banks must meet additional liquidity requirements in the EU. The cep introduces the new rules and highlights their impact.

The European Commission clarifies its Strategic Framework for an Energy Union and the associated climate and energy policy measures which it is planning for the coming years. It supports inter alia in this regard an expansion of cross-border gas infrastructure in the EU and tighter CO₂ limits for motor vehicles.

Due to the one-sided dependence of many Central and Eastern European Member States of the EU on Russian gas imports, the options for joint gas purchasing from non-EU countries are currently discussed. This cepInput describes the economic impacts of mandatory as well as voluntary joint gas purchasing mechanisms in the EU and explains the legal preconditions for joint gas purchasing associations.

The Commission assumes an investment gap in the EU, as investments have fallen in the EU by 15% since 2007. Consequently, it wants to mobilise investments in the EU amounting to € 315 billion by creating a European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI).

The European Council calls for the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to be developed to the main European instrument to prevent climate change. The cep examines how an extension of the EU ETS, for example on the road transport sector, can induce effective and efficient climate protection. It is straightforward that an extension of the EU ETS using the upstream approach can be implemented and is preferable to regulatory climate change measures.

The Commission wants to combat unfair trading practices in the food supply chain. It wants to examine the effectiveness of the voluntary Supply Chain Initiative (SCI) and encourage more companies and associations to join. In addition, the exchange of information about national legislation to combat unfair trading practices between the Member States will be improved. The authorities responsible for implementing national legislation will work together "effectively". The Commission wants to assess the progress of national implementation measures.

The cep traces the development of the principle of subsidiarity and demonstrates that to date – five years after entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty – the principle of subsidiarity has failed to limit the exercise of power. It then offers five suggestions on how to strengthen the principle of subsidiarity in the EU.