@techreport{KaskFeller2021, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Kask, Maarja and Feller, Nils}, title = {Digital Education in Europe and the EU's role in upgrading it}, doi = {10.48462/opus4-3732}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-37323}, pages = {7}, year = {2021}, abstract = {A key political priority of Ursula von der Leyen's Commission is making Europe fit for the digital age. It promised to create playing rules for Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the first 100 days of its mandate. This urgency underlines the importance of digital transformation for the Commission. We have not seen the same sense of urgency regarding digital education, however. In this policy brief, Nils Feller and Maarja Kask explain why stronger EU engagement in digital education and upskilling is crucial not only for the Union's labour market but its overall competitiveness. They show where the Commission stands, what challenges it faces and how they can be addressed.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Mack2021, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Mack, Sebastian}, title = {Beyond transparency: Getting serious about greening Europe's financial system}, doi = {10.48462/opus4-3733}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-37334}, pages = {7}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The financial sector must divest from unsustainable business. This is imperative to achieve a climate-neutral economy and to safeguard financial stability. The European sustainable finance regulatory agenda of 2018 launched important initiatives that increase transparency on climate risks. Now it is time to move to the second stage and incorporate climate risks in the risk models and capital requirements of banks, pensions funds and insurance firms. This will reduce their exposure to potential losses from climate risks and at the same time render sustainable investment alternatives more attractive.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Redeker, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Redeker, Nils}, title = {After the German election: What's next in EU industrial policy?}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-42413}, pages = {6}, abstract = {The green and digital transformation of industry was one of the central issues in the German election campaign. However, many fundamental decisions on industrial policy can only be taken at the European level. The new German government must therefore turn its attention to Brussels as soon as possible and provide answers to specific questions: How can an investment-oriented industrial policy be organized in the single market? What European regulatory framework does the transformation of European industry to climate neutrality require? And finally, how much geopolitics can European industrial policy take?}, language = {en} } @techreport{Rasche, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Rasche, Lucas}, title = {After the German election: What's next in EU migration policy?}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-42420}, pages = {7}, abstract = {In the election campaign, the topic of migration has been conspicuous mainly by its absence. However, this should not obscure the fact that the new federal government has difficult questions to answer: What model of responsibility-sharing is it seeking at the EU level to advance the stalled asylum reform? What about the EU-Turkey agreement? And what options are there to expand legal escape routes? In this policy brief, Lucas Rasche writes that an answer to these questions first needs a credible narrative of what a "European solution" in migration policy can look like.}, language = {en} } @techreport{MackGuttenberg, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Mack, Sebastian and Guttenberg, Lucas}, title = {After the German election: What's next in EU economic governance?}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-42434}, pages = {6}, abstract = {The new German government will face a number of unresolved issues of varying urgency when it comes to EU economic governance. In the case of the fiscal rules, there is an urgent need for a decision on how to proceed after 2022. In the medium term, the future of EU finances and economic policy coordination is open; both have undergone drastic changes as a result of the Recovery Instrument. Last but not least, the new German government must decide whether and how to break the deadlock in negotiations on completing the banking union and breathe new life into the capital markets union.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Koenig, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Koenig, Nicole}, title = {After the German election: What's next in EU foreign and security policy?}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-42442}, pages = {6}, abstract = {The EU should appear more capable of acting, more capable of global politics and more sovereign. That is what the election manifestos of the leading German parties and future coalition partners say. But if you take a closer look, you often find vague formulations, old proposals or ones that will probably collect dust on the shelf. In this policy brief, Dr Nicole Koenig addresses the questions that the next federal government in Germany will have to face in the area of EU foreign and security policy to get a little closer to the promise of an EU capable of acting in foreign policy.}, language = {en} } @techreport{GuttenbergNguyen, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Guttenberg, Lucas and Nguyen, Thu}, title = {Nach der Wahl: Wie weiter mit der Rechtstaatlichkeit in der EU?}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-42457}, pages = {6}, abstract = {Der Rechtsstaat ist in vielen Mitgliedstaaten der EU unter Druck. Insbesondere Polen und Ungarn stellen durch eine immer systematischere Aush{\"o}hlung rechtsstaatlicher Prinzipien den Grundkonsens der EU als Rechtsgemeinschaft zur Disposition. Mit dem Urteil des polnischen Verfassungstribunals vom 7. Oktober 2021 erreichte diese Entwicklung ihren bisherigen H{\"o}hepunkt. Dieser Policy Brief erkl{\"a}rt die Hintergr{\"u}nde des Konflikts, zeigt Handlungsm{\"o}glichkeiten f{\"u}r die Europ{\"a}ische Kommission auf und erl{\"a}utert, welche Rolle die n{\"a}chste Bundesregierung bei der Wahrung der Rechtsstaatlichkeit in der EU spielen kann.}, language = {de} } @techreport{Koenig, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Koenig, Nicole}, title = {From Strategic Compass to Common Course: Key deliverables and implementation paths}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-42468}, pages = {19}, abstract = {The Strategic Compass for Security and Defence should concretise the EU's level of ambition as a security provider. In November 2021, a first draft was presented to the member states. It is now up to them to negotiate the final document until March 2022. The need for consensus and long-standing divides could tempt them to either dilute the draft or postpone the more controversial decisions to the implementation phase. With this paper, we seek to counteract these temptations. We identify eight key deliverables, point towards possible implementation challenges and propose ways to address them.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Mack, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Mack, Sebastian}, title = {Never waste a good crisis: European banking regulation in the pandemic}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-42474}, pages = {8}, abstract = {The regulatory framework for banks introduced in the aftermath of the global financial crisis was designed to provide financial stability in good and bad times. Given an external shock, capital buffers are meant to cushion losses and prevent banks from pro-cyclical deleveraging. However, insufficient accumulation of easily releasable buffers ahead of the pandemic, combined with banks' unwillingness to use the available ones, made European decision-makers tweak hard banking law during the pandemic. In his policy brief, Sebastian Mack shows that microprudential, monetary and fiscal policy measures together averted a credit crunch. But Europe should revise its macroprudential framework so that it is fully functional in the next crisis.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Rasche, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Rasche, Lucas}, title = {Migrationskrise mit Belarus Realit{\"a}tscheck \& Handlungsoptionen f{\"u}r die neue Bundesregierung}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-42483}, pages = {9}, abstract = {F{\"u}r die neue Bundesregierung ist die Krise an der EU-Außengrenze zu Belarus eine erste Bew{\"a}hrungsprobe f{\"u}r den angek{\"u}ndigten Paradigmenwechsel ihrer Migrationspolitik. Im Fokus steht dabei die Frage, wie Deutschland und die EU einer instrumentalisierten Migrationsbewegung entgegentreten k{\"o}nnen. Die EU-Kommission hat dazu j{\"u}ngst eine Anpassung des Schengener Grenzkodex sowie eine neue „Instrumentalisierungs-Verordnung" vorge� schlagen. Angesichts dieser Entwicklungen er{\"o}rtert dieser Policy Brief, welche Handlungsoptionen der neuen Bundesregierung offenstehen, um die Vorhaben des Koalitionsvertrags auf europ{\"a}ischer Ebene umzusetzen.}, language = {de} } @techreport{Rasche, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Rasche, Lucas}, title = {The French EU Council Presidency: How to proceed on resettlement \& humanitarian admission?}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-42493}, pages = {8}, abstract = {Given the recent crises in Belarus and Afghanistan, President Macron has declared protecting the EU's external borders as a main priority of the upcoming French Council Presidency. Yet, in this policy brief, Lucas Rasche argues that the French Council Presidency should move beyond a restrictive approach to reform the EU's asylum and migration policy. A less politicised approach can thereby help focus on solving technical issues to make progress where it is severely needed. This is especially the case when it comes to enhancing the number of safe and legal pathways to protection in the EU.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Rasche, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Rasche, Lucas}, title = {EU Talent Partnership - Fit for Purpose?}, doi = {10.48462/opus4-4017}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-40171}, pages = {8}, abstract = {On 11 June, the Commission presented its proposal for so-called "Talent Partnerships" as a framework for member states to engage strategically with selected third countries on legal migration. Based on several pilot projects, the Talent Partnerships should allow member states to address their skills needs whilst improving cooperation in areas such as readmission or migration management. This Policy Brief takes a closer look behind the illusive terminology and asks: what exactly are Talent Partnerships? After discussing their major challenges and opportunities, the Policy Brief outlines three principles that should guide the Partnerships' implementation: clear and realistic objectives, a focus on countries beyond the EU's immediate neighbourhood, and avoiding negative conditionality}, language = {en} } @techreport{NguyenRedeker, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Nguyen, Thu and Redeker, Nils}, title = {Check yourself before you wreck yourself}, doi = {10.48462/opus4-4018}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-40183}, pages = {5}, abstract = {Strengthening the EU's capacity to act in economic policy making has become a fashionable talking point on the European policy agenda. At the same time, there is little debate about the institutional preconditions to be able to live up to these ambitions. In this policy brief, Nils Redeker and Thu Nguyen argue that the combination of grand policy ambition and institutional neglect constitutes a dangerous mix. Without new financial tools and decision-making procedures, the agenda is bound to disappoint. The authors argue that the debate on EU economic sovereignty needs to start talking about real reforms or else stop raising false expectations.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Nguyen2021, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Nguyen, Thu}, title = {The Commission is political: Time to act upon this truth in the run-up to 2024}, doi = {10.48462/opus4-4025}, pages = {4}, year = {2021}, abstract = {How 'political' can and should the European Commission be? This question is a long-standing one. On the one hand, European integration demands more and more political and distributive choices to be taken at European level. On the other hand, there is the fear that a political Commission would undermine its own role as the neutral, objective guardian of the Treaties. In this policy brief, Thu Nguyen revisits the concept of a 'political Commission' and argues for a reinforcement of its political character in the run-up to the 2024 European elections.}, language = {en} } @techreport{KoenigWernert, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Koenig, Nicole and Wernert, Yann}, title = {Can France and Germany relaunch Europe's security agenda?}, doi = {10.48462/opus4-3827}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-38274}, pages = {8}, abstract = {There can be no European security agenda without France and Germany. To shape this agenda and get others on board, they need to converge on the challenges they wish to tackle and the means to do that. This policy brief reviews the degree of Franco-German convergence while focusing on three issues: geopolitical assessment, strategic cultures, and capability development. We find that strategic convergence often goes hand in hand with tactical divergence. To be able to shape Europe's security agenda in the short- to medium-term, deeper Franco-German convergence and more inclusive co-leadership will be needed}, language = {de} } @techreport{DukenRasche, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Duken, Carlotta and Rasche, Lucas}, title = {Towards a European Model for Community Sponsorship}, doi = {10.48462/opus4-3802}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-38027}, pages = {8}, abstract = {Community sponsorship has become an increasingly popular instrument for setting up safe and legal pathways to protection in recent years. As part of its New Pact on Asylum and Migration, the European Commission now assumed ownership of the concept and called for a distinct "European model" of community sponsorship. However, the Commission remains vague as to how a European approach should look like. This Policy Brief analyses existing sponsorship schemes in EU member states and argues that a "European model" should be based on two principles: the additionality of sponsorship schemes and their focus on the protection of beneficiaries.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Mack, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Mack, Sebastian}, title = {The final piece of the Basel III jigsaw fits - Banks and unrated corporates can handle the output floor}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-42510}, pages = {8}, abstract = {The European Commission has proposed implementing the outstanding elements of the international banking reforms agreed in the wake of the global financial crisis. The final Basel III rules are designed to curb any underestimating of risks by banks when using internal models. The introduction of the output floor as lower bound for determining banks' capital requirements will foster fair competition between banks using internal models and those that do not. The output floor will predominantly affect loans to large unrated corporates. Sebastian Mack assumes that the resulting capital increase will be digestible for the banks with only limited effects on the real economy. Requiring all EU corporates to seek an external credit rating would not reduce the impact of the output floor as only a fraction of these firms demonstrates high creditworthiness. However, increasing the rating coverage of EU corporates would provide banks with additional information on borrowers and thus improve their risk management capabilities. In the absence of any public European rating agency, national central banks should follow the example of the Banque de France and establish public rating registers for large EU corporates.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Guttenberg, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Guttenberg, Lucas}, title = {A political enigma: Four open questions about the Conference on the Future of Europe}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-42528}, pages = {5}, abstract = {The Conference on the Future of Europe remains an enigma just five months before its projected end. In this policy brief, Lucas Guttenberg outlines the four main open questions that will determine the outcome of the conference and whether it will be judged a success: What level of ambition will the conference aim for? Who is calling the shots when it comes to the conference's outcome document? What will happen next after the end of the conference? And how will the conference impact the EU's institutional fabric in the long run?}, language = {en} } @techreport{NguyenRedeker, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Nguyen, Thu and Redeker, Nils}, title = {How to make the marriage work: Wedding the Recovery and Resilience Facility and European Semester}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-42537}, pages = {8}, abstract = {A year into its existence, the Recovery and Resilience Facility finds itself closely wed to the European Semester. It is a difficult marriage, but it is a marriage made to last. Any debate on the future of the Semester will take place against the backdrop of the RRF experience. And any future fiscal capacity at the EU level will not come without a Semester-style reform leg. It is therefore crucial to make this marriage work. In this policy brief, Nils Redeker and Thu Nguyen argue that this requires three things: 1) scaling back recommendations under the regular Semester, 2) balancing out the asymmetric powers that the Commission now has over different member states, and 3) striking the right balance between flexibility and enforcement of agreed plans.}, language = {en} } @techreport{HeimbachWernert, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Heimbach, Henriette and Wernert, Yann}, title = {The two-step Council Presidency: France's Presidency of the Council of the European Union during the election period}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-42543}, pages = {8}, abstract = {The French Council Presidency in the first half of 2022 comes at an important time. While many European dossiers such as the Digital Markets Act or the climate package „Fitfor55" are waiting for decisive impulses and successfully conducted negotiations, presidential and parliamentary elections will take place in France from April on. President Macron will therefore use the first three months of the Council Presidency intensively to set political accents, to advance the European project and to make his mark in the French election campaign. The elections will then be the beginning of a technocratic phase of the Council Presidency in which few results are to be expected.}, language = {en} }