Publications Archive

For the first time, the EU is planning its own commissioner for housing. The Centre for European Policy (cep) considers this step to be sensible in view of the housing shortage, particularly in the urban centres of many member states. However, the expected measures should not be at the expense of free competition.

Patent applications are an important indicator of innovative strength and competitiveness. The EU is far from being a global leader in many critical technologies. The Centre for European Policy (cep) has used patent data to analyse the benefits and risks of international research cooperation for six critical technologies and compared the EU with global innovation powers such as the USA, Japan and South Korea. The result: without international cooperation, Europe will be left behind.

Sun, summer - beach fees: Holidaymakers often have to pay to use services in Italy's beaches managed by concession holders. However, the Italian way of dealing with the management of such concessions is in breach of EU law, as they are simply renewed by the public administration year after year.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe suffer just as much from bureaucratic requirements as companies with more than 250 employees. This is the result of a study by the Centre for European Policy (cep) at EU level. According to the study, it is not worth staying below the 250-employee threshold because of current EU law.

The French legislative elections of 7 July were a general surprise. While all the pollsters had predicted a relative or absolute majority for the far right, in the end the left-wing alliance of the Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP) came out on top, followed by the presidential majority of the Ensemble group, with the Rassemblement National (RN) coming in third.

Given the specificity of the Italian social and economic model, the declining birth rates registered in the country are threatening  national economic prospects and the sustainability of the welfare system, posing a significant challenge for the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's conservative, right-wing government.

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.

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.

Recent disruptions in the Baltic Sea and elsewhere highlight the integral role of digital and physical conduits such as gas pipelines, telecommunications cables and undersea data cables in maintaining European connectivity and security.

Biotechnology has long since become a global job engine. However, compared to the US and China, Europe is lagging in terms of innovation dynamics. This is the conclusion of a study by the Centre for European Policy (cep). This stagnation is forcing the EU to significantly im-prove the conditions for the development and production of bio-based industrial products.