Forced into humility
Voters in the recent parliamentary elections in the UK and France have one thing in common: they have forced their governments into a position of humility. And yet one of them obviously lost whilst the other was a clear winner. In the view of her fellow countrymen, Prime Minister May took a gamble and lost the Government’s majority in the House of Commons. Macron, on the other hand, won an absolute majority but a low turn-out by the electorate (just 42.6% of voters took part in the second round of voting) put a dampener on his celebrations. He must now be aware that, when it comes to implementing his planned reforms, whilst he may have the support of a majority in the National Assembly, he does not have the majority of the population behind him. And the British, who boasted that Brexit would make them stronger, have at long last entered Brexit negotiations with the EU in a much more subdued mood and are now prepared to accept that there will be no discussion about future relations until the divorce terms have been settled. For that we have the voters to thank. |
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| Privacy and Electronic Communications |
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The EU - Commission wants a Regulation to protect the confidentiality of electronic communications and related end-user data more effectively and at the same time ensure the freedom of movement of such data. In cep’s view, the envisaged coherence with the General Data Protection Regulation has not been achieved. This results in legal uncertainty which weakens the EU as a location for the data economy.
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| Harmonising Radio Spectrum Licences |
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The EU Commission wants to further harmonise the rules on the use of radio spectrum. In cep’s view, the long minimum duration of 25 years for time-limited harmonised radio spectrum licences, envisaged by the Commission, should be abolished because, in the technologically fast moving telecommunications sector, it may result in the inefficient distribution of licences.
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| Internal Electricity Market - Part 2 |
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The EU Commission wants to strengthen competition on the wholesale electricity markets. Cross-border power flows in the EU will also be increased. In cep's view, banning Member States from intervening in price formation on the wholesale electricity markets increases competition amongst electricity producers.
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| Universal Telecomms Services |
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The EU-Commission wants to revise the universal service rules in order to enable all EU citizens to have a broadband connection at an “affordable price”. In cep’s view, however, an obligation for universal service providers, to offer social tariffs below market prices in order to give low-income citizens a broadband connection, would be in breach of the freedom to conduct a business.
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“Only when Europe speaks with one voice and combines its forces will it be able to bring its full weight to bear.“
Helmut Kohl (†), former Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany |
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“Let’s wait and see who is on the front seat of this Franco-German tandem and deciding on the direction.”
Prof. Lüder Gerken, Chairman of the cep |
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“A fair deal is possible and far better than no deal.”
Michel Barnier, EU Chief Negotiator |
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“In view of current US policy, “more Europe” is the only possibility if Europe wants to solve pressing problems such as climate change and terrorism.“
Dr. Matthias Kullas, Head of Division of the cep |
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Facts
257 billion Euro is the total so far paid to Greece under the three rescue packages. The money came partly by way of direct loans from the eurozone countries, partly via the EFSF and ESM bailout funds and partly via the International Monetary Fund. |
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| | | “I got us into this mess, I’m going to get us out of it...” |
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