| |
Dear Readers,
April showers bring May flowers: as a signal of freshness and vitality, the Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) has chosen this to be its Spring motto. For almost two decades now, our economists and legal experts have been guiding you capably and with brio through the maze of rules and regulations emanating from Brussels. Their policy briefs, studies and dossiers are respected throughout Europe and often serve as the basis for important decisions in politics, business and the media. The tried-and-tested traffic light system has long since become a familiar trademark.
Quality and relevance are the focus of our think tank. But as we all know, it is never a good idea to rest on one’s laurels. Our content has always been available on the www.cep.eu website and that is not going to change. You will still find us on the internet at this address. What will change from 7 May, however, is the form of presentation. Working with digital experts Pushh from Hamburg and iGroup from Karlsruhe, we have given the website a makeover and are very proud of the results. Our content now has a brand new look - well-organised, modern and user-friendly; and all clearly laid out by the various partner institutes in Germany, France and Italy.
Interested? Then get surfing and find out what the new-look cep has to offer. A lot of things will still be familiar to you, others will be new and - we hope - more accessible and easier to understand. We would also like to get your feedback - let us know what you think of our fresh new online presence. Get involved and help us to keep our finger on the pulse of the latest decisions in Europe so that we can keep our stakeholders and partners fully and accurately informed.
Should minor technical problems occur in the first few days, please be patient and bear with us. We will quickly eliminate these teething troubles.
Stay tuned!
Yours
Dr. Jörg Köpke |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| |
| The Centres for European Policy Network (cep) will have a fresh new website from 7 May. |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| |
| Latest EU Proposals in Focus |
|
|
|---|
|
|
Digitalisation and New Technologies|
Single Market | Competition |
|
|
|---|
|
|
Space Law: EU Caught Napping in the Race for Standards in Space
The Commission will not after all be presenting its planned proposal for an EU Space Law until the next legislative period, observers revealed recently. Originally announced for the first quarter of 2024 and then postponed to April 2024, the proposal intends to create a framework for safe, resilient and sustainable space activities in Europe. The aim is to define common rules for avoiding collisions and reducing space debris, which poses a threat to the economic utilisation of space. The law also provides for rules on comprehensive risk management and cybersecurity protocols specifically tailored to the needs of the space sector. A consultation on this has already taken place. Indefinitely postponing the EU Space Law poses the risk that other space powers such as the USA and China will continue to lay claim to space, which is increasingly being used by the private sector, and set the initial standards that European companies will later have to follow. cep is in favour of competition-oriented legislation that creates legal certainty and prevents unfair competition from external providers (see cepInput No. 4/2024). |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| The EU Commission asks decision-makers and interested parties from civil society for their opinion on European policy proposals. Here is our short-list of the most important consultation: |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| |
Evaluation of the European Standardisation System
On 2 April 2024, the Commission launched a Consultation on European standardisation. In its standardisation strategy back in 2022 [COM(2022) 31], it announced that the Regulation on European standardisation [(EU) No 1025/2012] would be subject to an evaluation due to the changes in technical standardisation over the last ten years. The aim of the consultation is to gather information on the effectiveness and efficiency of the Regulation. This will then be used to examine whether the current EU legislation on European standardisation is still fit for purpose. The Commission wants to ensure that the European Standardisation System is capable of delivering standards that support a green, digital and resilient single market and are also of global relevance.
The submission period for opinions ends on 25 July 2024.
The consultation is available here. |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| |
| |
13 May 2024
Brussels
Meeting of the Eurogroup. This concerns xxx.
14 May 2024
Brussels
Meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN). Among other things, they will discuss faster and more secure procedures for the relief of excess withholding tax (FASTER) and the "VAT in the digital age" package. There will be an exchange of views on the current status of the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility. Conclusions on strengthening financial education are also to be approved.
21 May 2024
Brussels
Meeting of the Telecommunications Council.*
23 May 2024
Brussels
Meeting of the Competitiveness Council.*
*The agenda was not yet available at the time of going to press. |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| |
| |
| The cepDossier aims to draw attention to important EU legislative proposals in a more concise form than a Study or PolicyBrief. Current proposals are reported and briefly summarised. The aim is to achieve even faster delivery of interest-driven information which may be of relevance to sectors and stakeholders. |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| ECON Committee paves the way for the introduction of a European Deposit Insurance Scheme |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| | Back in November 2015, the Commission proposed the introduction of a common deposit insurance scheme (European Deposit Insurance Scheme, EDIS), primarily for the eurozone, as the third pillar of the banking union - alongside banking supervision by the European Central Bank (ECB) and the bank resolution mechanism. Due to strong opposition, the European Parliament and the Council have only recently taken a position on the Commission's proposal.
Go to cepDossier(German Version) |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| |
| |
| cepStudy: A Global Gateway to Secure Supply Chains? |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| | Whether in digital technology, energy or transport, the European Commission wants to tie emerging and developing countries more closely to the EU economy. Up to €300 billion is to flow into the Global Gateway investment programme by 2027. In its analysis, the Centre for European Policy Network (cep) has for the first time comprehensively examined its trade effects on the EU. Key finding: in order to strengthen the EU's economic resilience, the Global Gateway should not be a solo initiative; it must be combined with the broader European Green Agenda.
Go to cepStudy |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| |
| cepAdhoc: Ukrainian Agricultural Imports into the EU |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| | While the war in Ukraine is still raging, the EU has decided to reintroduce tariffs on key Ukrainian agricultural products. This decision may sound like a betrayal, as Ukraine needs financial resources more than ever to defend itself against Russia. In a cepAdhoc, the Centres for European Policy Network (cep) analyzes the EU's considerations and assesses the current situation.
Go to cepAdhoc |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| |
| cepInput: Language Technology as a Competitive Advantage for the EU |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| | Language models such as ChatGPT are both a risk and an opportunity for Europe. The Centre for European Policy (cep) outlines a ten-point guide for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Key question: How can Artificial Intelligence (AI) create competitive advantage efficiently? Key demand: Companies should be pragmatic – and less hesitant.
Go to cepInput |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| |
| cepInput Special: Freedom or Serfdom - Fateful Years ahead for Europe |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| | The EU faces fateful years. In an eight-part series of articles, the Centres for European Policy Network (cep) aims to draw attention to the pressing issues and developments that will have a decisive impact on the EU beyond the day-to-day political and regulatory matters in the run-up to the important and trend-setting European elections on 9 June.
Go to cepInput |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| |
| cepInput Special: The Quest for a Future-Proof EU Industrial Policy |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| | After the European elections, the Commission must readjust the EU's industrial policy. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) is calling on Brussels to reduce regulations and place more trust in the free market economy.
Go to cepInput |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| |
| cepAdhoc: Meloni’s Constitutional Reform |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| | The Italian government is seeking to advance a constitutional reform that would allow the Prime Minister to be directly elected the by the citizens. The idea is that this would ensure greater stability to the govern-ment, also respecting the principle of democratic representation. Although the Italian coalition govern-ment appears not to have the necessary number of seats in the Parliament to pass the reform, without re-sorting to a popular referendum, the risks of this reform are twofold.
Go to cepAdhoc |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| |
| cepInput Special: The Next Step for the Single Market: A Geo-economic Shelter |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| | Whether the USA, China or the global South: the European Union is coming under increasing geopolitical and economic pressure. In order to withstand this and make the single market resilient, the Centre for European Policy (cep) is calling for a geo-economic protective shield.
Go to cepInput |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| |
| cepInput Spezial: Anticipating AI Instead of Preventing It |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| | Inadequate resources, dominant tech companies and a lack of legitimacy: rapid progress in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) requires a drastic rethink in Brussels. This is the conclusion of a study by the Centre for European Policy (cep) in the run-up to the European elections. An institutional reorganisation of the Commission is needed.
Go to cepInput |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| |
| |
Dear Readers,
What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, everyone else calls a butterfly. We hope you enjoy our new website www.cep.eu
Yours
Dr. Jörg Köpke |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| |
| Recommend our newsletter to others or sign up! |
| | |
|
|---|
|
|
| |
| |
