Calm after the storm
The wounds have been licked. The divisions remain. That is how one could sum up the agreement reached at the EU summit on a Corona aid package and the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework. Failure would, of course, have thrown the EU into an existential crisis. But just because that did not happen is no reason to forget the ongoing problems. As a sign of European solidarity, countries such as Italy are being handed billions of euros to overcome the Corona crisis, for which the EU is taking on debt. It remains to be seen whether serious requirements for reform will be attached to the aid. And it is right to be sceptical in this regard. In addition, lawyers are divided about whether, on the basis of the new Own Resources Decision, the EU Commission is even permitted to borrow funds amounting to € 750 billion. And who knows what the future holds for the ESM because which eurozone country is still going to accept the strict reform requirements in future, if these are substantially watered down in the Corona aid package? One thing is certain: The results of the July summit are going to preoccupy Europe for a long time to come.
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| Shortage of Skilled Medical Staff |
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| The EU Commission has published guidelines on the application of the Professional Qualifications Recognition Directive to address the shortage of doctors and nurses as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. A cepInput evaluates to what extent the guidelines can contribute to combat the increased shortage of skilled workers.
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| Advertising by Pharmacies |
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| The CJEU is currently hearing a case regarding the French regulation of advertising by pharmacies. A cepInput describes the French regulations, explains the questions of the CJEU proceedings, looks at the Italian and German regulations in comparison and assesses the Opinion of the Advocate General.
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| EU Data Strategy - Part 1 |
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| The EU Commission wants to create a Single European Data Space for personal, non-personal, public and business data and promote the sharing, use and re-use of data in the EU. It has announced its plans for this in a communication.
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| Circular Plastics Economy for Non-food Packaging |
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| With a new Circular Economy Action Plan, the EU Commission wants to create a "circular plastics economy" in the European Union. A cep study evaluates the requirements for implementing the action plan.
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| "These long negotiations were characterized by difficulties, sometimes clashes, and different perceptions of Europe.”
France’s President Emmanuel Macron on the agreed Corona financial package |
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| “The Corona crisis has clearly shown us once again how quickly and unexpectedly we can get into financial difficulty.”
Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht on the shortening of the residual debt discharge procedure. |
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“The legal basis for the EU’s Corona recovery package raises numerous questions. E.g. whether, as envisaged by the proposal for a new Own Resources Decision, the EU Commission is permitted to borrow funds amounting to € 750 billion on the financial markets.“ Anja Hoffmann, Lawyer at cep, on the Corona financial package |
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| “The Renewable Energy Act should be abolished. Immediately.”
Lüder Gerken, President of cep, on electricity prices in Germany |
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| In 2020 EU population will amount to only 448 million people. The reason for this is the Brexit. The EU has lost just under 13% of its population as a result of Britain's withdrawal from the EU. The natural growth balance would be slightly positive, as immigration compensates for the slightly higher death than birth rate.
As of January 1, 2020, Germany still has the largest population in the EU, even if the increase is much smaller than in other countries. By contrast, Eastern European countries, above all Bulgaria, have experienced the sharpest population decline. |
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Celebrating in Corona times
Source: Oliver Schopf (POLITICOEurope/Twitter) |
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