Publications Archive

The EU Commission wants to speed up the deployment of fast telecommunications networks. An access regulation for telecoms network operators with a dominant market position which gives more consideration to competition at retail level will contribute to this. cep welcomes this step but criticises the preferential regulatory treatment given to "very high-capacity networks".

The EU Commission has submitted its proposal to amend the Posting of Workers Directive. The principle of "equal pay for equal work in the same place" will apply to both permanent employees and posted workers. In cep's view, this proposal is in breach of the freedom to provide services in the EU.

The Commission wants to improve cooperation between national consumer protection authorities in combating cross-border infringements of EU consumer protection laws. In cep's view, however, burdensome duties of cooperation should only apply to infringements which could noticeably damage the internal market.

The European Parliament discusses the EU Commission's proposal to introduce an EU deposit guarantee scheme. The cepAdhoc assesses the European Parliament's draft report.

An EU certification scheme for aviation security screening equipment – e.g. metal detectors or body scanners – intends to overcome fragmentation of the internal market. This will be based on EU type-approval recognised in all Member States.

The EU Commission is planning to ban geo-blocking and other discrimination based on nationality, place of residence or establishment in order to improve cross-border online trade in goods and services. In cep's view, the bans will only rarely result in customers buying more across borders.

The EU Commission proposes the introduction of a "Pillar of Social Rights" which is to contain principles for the approximation of the social policies of the Member States. In cep's view, the approximation of social standards is inadvisable because the capacity of the national social systems is too varied.

With a strategy for low-emission mobility, the EU Commission intends to help reduce CO₂ emissions and air pollutants caused by transport. In cep's view, the Commission's proposed measures are largely unsuitable for reducing these emissions caused by transport in a manner which is effective and ensures "technology neutrality".

This cepStudy examines the regulatory role of the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) and the EU Commission. cep makes ten recommendations for improving control and scrutiny of the ESAs' and the Commission’s activities at Level 2 and Level 3. These include calling on the Council to strengthen its monitoring structures. The ESAs should only be able to develop guidelines where Parliament and the Council do not object.

On the basis of an EU Commission Regulation, the emissions and removals of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the land use and forestry sector will be fully included into EU climate policy. As a result, the quantity of GHG emissions in this area will no longer be permitted to be greater than the removals of GHGs by way of absorption into the ground or by plants or wood products.