Publications Archive

The EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) for reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) covers only about 45% of EU GHG emissions. Non-covered economic sectors include road transport, buildings, agriculture and waste management. In these sectors, GHG emissions are to be reduced through "effort-sharing" within the EU.

Greece is still not creditworthy. The country has received €289 billion in financial assistance for eight years, but there is still a long way to go to regain its creditworthiness. This is the result of the updated cepDefault-Index on the occasion of the expiry of the third EU adjustment programme for Athens on 20 August.

The EU Commission wants to improve the application of EU law in the area of labour mobility. For this purpose, it proposes setting up a European Labour Authority. The Authority will facilitate access to information and services on labour mobility for citizens and companies and promote cooperation between national authorities.

The supervision of investment firms in the EU will become more adapted to their business models and risks. For this purpose, the EU Commission has proposed inter alia a Regulation on prudential requirements for investment firms.

The EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS) is the most important instrument for climate protection in the European Union and makes a material contribution to achieving EU climate targets. Prior to its 4th trading period (2021–2030), the ETS has been comprehensively reformed. cep has prepared an Input assessing the status and perspectives following the reform.

By way of a new Directive, the EU Commission wants to promote transparent and predictable working conditions for workers. At the same time, the Directive should ensure the adaptability of the labour market. Affected are employers and employees, particularly those in non-standard employment relationships.

Minimum standards will protect micro, small and medium-sized suppliers against unfair trading practices in the food trade. For this purpose, the EU Commission has proposed a Directive. Until now there have been no EU-wide standard rules on dealing with unfair trading practices.

The principle of mutual recognition in the field of the free movement of goods is to be strengthened. A proposed Regulation from the EU Commission aims to ensure that goods, which are already lawfully marketed in a Member State, will not be subject to hasty bans or restrictions in other Member States due to only divergent product requirements.

The EU Commission wants to promote the uptake of zero-emission and low-emission cars, lorries and buses by way of strict rules on public procurement. For this the Directive on the promotion of clean and energy-efficient road transport vehicles is to be amended.

The EU Commission has revised the Drinking Water Directive: In future, in addition to bringing limits on pollutants into line with the latest scientific knowledge, a “risk-based approach” will ensure that threats to the drinking-water supply are recognised early. In addition, Member States must improve access to drinking water.