@techreport{Dittrich, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Dittrich, Paul-Jasper}, title = {Data sharing: A European challenge? Why the EU should make data sharing a piority}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-32902}, pages = {6}, abstract = {Data sharing refers to transactions in which personal or nonpersonal data from the public or private sector is made available for other organisations (public or private) for use and re-use. Data sharing can occur for free or data can be made available for profit. Data sharing in the EU has a lot of untapped value potential both for individuals and for the economy at large. New rules and institutions that can enable data sharing in a trusted manner and give citizens more control over when and how they share their private data need to be built at the European level. The question is how? The EU should work towards a stronger culture of data sharing and help build the necessary infrastructure with a focus on two areas: Building infrastructure for data sharing and access for companies and extending the right to portability of personal data (Art. 20 GDPR).}, language = {en} } @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{Koenig, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Koenig, Nicole}, title = {Time to go beyond the meta-debate on EU strategic autonomy in defence}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-37142}, pages = {5}, abstract = {EU member states have been debating the notion of European strategic autonomy in the field of defence for decades. The election of US President Donald Trump in 2016 revived this debate and his administration's negative attitude towards EU defence cooperation initiatives rendered it highly emotive. With Joe Biden's victory, the debate is apparently ready to enter the next stage. In this policy brief, I argue that a Biden administration represents an opportunity to go beyond terminological debates onto two more substantial questions that represent two sides of the same coin: how can Europeans shape a more balanced transatlantic security and defence agenda and how can they defend their own security interests?}, language = {en} } @techreport{KoenigNguyen, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Koenig, Nicole and Nguyen, Thu}, title = {Five takeaways from the German "Corona Presidency"}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-37166}, pages = {8}, abstract = {On 31 December 2020, Germany's rotating EU Council presidency will come to an end after a particularly difficult term. Corona burst upon an already crowded policy agenda, including the negotiation of the EU's next seven-year budget, rule of law conditionality and the finalization of the Brexit negotiations. On top of a packed agenda, the German presidency faced considerable institutional and corona-related constraints. In this Policy Brief, Nicole Koenig and Thu Nguyen look back at the German presidency and develop five key takeaways for the upcoming corona presidencies, notably Portugal (first half of 2021) and Slovenia (second half). The German presidency has shown that they should prepare for more corona crisis management,internal divisions and unexpected crises.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Knudsen, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Knudsen, Edward L.}, title = {No going back? A transatlantic cooperation agenda under Biden}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-36871}, pages = {5}, abstract = {If Joe Biden is elected US President in November, will he restore the preTrump era of transatlantic relations? While some Europeans may wish for that, it is neither feasible nor desirable, as Edward Knudsen argues in this policy brief. A changing geopolitical landscape and declining economic conditions mean that new solutions are needed. Instead of focussing on traditional forms of cooperation like liberalising trade and bolstering defence, the US and EU should work together to tackle inequality and corruption, address the climate emergency, and defuse geopolitical tensions.}, language = {en} } @techreport{GuttenbergMack, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Guttenberg, Lucas and Mack, Sebastian}, title = {Building EU green bonds that deserve their name}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-36885}, pages = {4}, abstract = {The EU should seize the day: It should issue parts of the Recovery Instrument debt as green bonds and thereby boost that burgeoning market. But it is important to manage expectations: Issuing green bonds alone will not ‚green' recovery spending. This will depend on the criteria for climate-friendly spending in the legal texts governing the Recovery Instrument - and these so far lack teeth. So, there is a substantial risk that EU green bonds will set the wrong precedent now if backed by weak criteria. This would pre-empt future legislative work on the final EU green bond standard. If the criteria for climatefriendly spending are not strengthened, the Commission should scale back its ambition and should only issue green bonds for measures that fully match the criteria set out in the EU Taxonomy Regulation.}, language = {en} } @techreport{NguyenHeimbach, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Nguyen, Thu and Heimbach, Henriette}, title = {Time to unlock the potential of bi-parliamentarism - The Franco-German model}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-36899}, pages = {6}, abstract = {The inception of the Franco-German Parliamentary Assembly in January 2019 marked an important step towards the institutionalization of Franco-German relations on a parliamentary level. The Assembly provides a forum for binational debate and democratic scrutiny, and has the potential to strengthen Franco-German cooperation and leadership at EU level by fostering practical compromises and solutions bilaterally before they are being brought to Brussels. The Assembly nevertheless falls short of its potential. In their policy brief, Henriette Heimbach and Thu Nguyen assess the Assembly's shortcomings and provide suggestions for improvement. Apart from enhancing the transparency of its work, the Assembly should focus on addressing concrete bilateral problems and channeling them into concrete demands. At the same time, the Assembly should act as coordination forum for Franco-German positions at EU level to foster common positions. The authors conclude that despite its shortcomings, the Franco-German Parliamentary Assembly can serve as a role model for other member states to establish and institutionalize similar forms of bi-parliamentarism.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Kask, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Kask, Maarja}, title = {A European approach to regulating AI - The Commission's AI strategy}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-36904}, pages = {6}, abstract = {The European Commission's AI strategy was released just a few short weeks before the global pandemic hit Europe. In her policy brief, Maarja Kask argues that AI can only be expected to help us through this pandemic and on a path of economic recovery if the upcoming legislation resolves the issues evident in the white paper. Not only does the Commission need to explain what it means when it talks about AI, but also be clear about its investment plan. The member states will also need to pull their weight when it comes to funding for the strategy to succeed.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Guttenberg, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Guttenberg, Lucas}, title = {Time to come home - If the ESM is to stay relevant, it should be reinvented inside the EU}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-36962}, pages = {5}, abstract = {When restarting work on reforming the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), the Eurogroup should heed the lessons of the pandemic: The ESM has become politically unviable while there is apparently a lot more flexibility within the EU treaties than previously thought. Therefore, this policy brief argues that the old reform plans should be put to one side and the ESM should be reinvented inside the EU legal order if it is to remain relevant. Such a reinvention would create a coherent crisis management framework that would be politically sustainable in the long run.}, language = {en} } @techreport{GuttenbergHemkerTordoir, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Guttenberg, Lucas and Hemker, Johannes and Tordoir, Sander}, title = {Everything will be different: How the pandemic is changing EU economic governance}, doi = {10.48462/opus4-3734}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-37344}, pages = {5}, abstract = {The pandemic will completely shake up the EU's economic governance in five ways: EU debt is possible and will become a reality; the EU and the Eurozone get a fiscal capacity; the European Semester will be history; the crisis managament architecture is politically questioned; and the Eurozone loses its relevance for EU decision-making. Taken together, these five lessons from the pandemic will render the old pre-pandemic Eurozone reform agenda obsolete. EU institutions should use the coming 18 months to prepare a new reform agenda for EU economic governance that can deliver tangible results before the next EU long-term budget will be negotiated.}, 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{Rasche, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Rasche, Lucas}, title = {Ukraine: A paradigm shift for the EU's asylum policy?}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-43456}, pages = {9}, abstract = {This Policy Brief maps the EU's immediate response to the arrival of more than three million Ukrainian refugees. While the decision to grant them immediate access to protection by activating the Temporary Protection Directive has raised the question whether current events will lead to a paradigm shift in EU asylum and migration policy, the EU's greater test is what member states and the Commission will do next. The Policy Brief discusses why a mechanism for the fair sharing of responsibility is urgently needed and outlines what such a scheme could look. It closes by arguing that the current welcoming of Ukrainian refugees is less a paradigm shift in EU asylum and migration policy than an example of an increased politicisation of access to protection.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Schneemelcher, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Schneemelcher, Pola}, title = {Taxation to the rescue? A tax reform to support EU economic recovery post-COVID-19}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-35574}, pages = {6}, abstract = {The COVID19 - crisis puts a strain on public households in the EU, not only because of necessary rescue packages, but also due to a drop of tax revenues in the face of an economic downward spiral. A European tax reform to support the economic recovery without putting an extra burden on companies s thus in strong need. One solution is to secure corporate taxes that formerly slipped through public budgets due to tax avoidance. In this Policy Brief, Pola Schneemelcher argues that the EU must now focus on the already proposed international minimum tax rate. Member states will not be able to implement it on their own; consensus at international level is necessary, but noncommittal. A legally binding solution can therefore only exist at EU level.}, language = {en} } @techreport{GuttenbergNguyen, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Guttenberg, Lucas and Nguyen, Thu}, title = {How to spend it right - A more democratic governance for the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-35594}, pages = {6}, abstract = {The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) will be the core of the EU's new Recovery Instrument to fight the economic fallout of the pandemic. Under the RRF, 310 billion euros in additional EU spending will be allocated by the European Commission to member states based on individual Recovery and Resilience Plans (RRPs). In this Policy Brief, we argue that the proposed governance to decide on the assessment of RRPs lacks democratic elements as parliaments are largely sidelined. This should be changed to ensure necessary political ownership at national and European level; to include a second pair of European eyes to prevent misspending; and to avoid a roll-back of EU democracy. Therefore, we propose that the European Parliament get a veto over the Commission decision assessing individual RRPs and allocating funds. National parliaments should also have a say in the adoption of the RRP of the respective member state.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Nguyen, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Nguyen, Thu}, title = {Managing expectations - The German Council presidency}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-35669}, pages = {6}, abstract = {On 1 July 2020 Germany will take over the presidency of the Council of the EU. Major European issues such as the Commission's proposal for a Recovery Instrument, the EU multiannual financial framework, or the negotiations on the future UK-EU relationship will fall within its term. If expectations were high before corona that a member state with the political weight and capacities of Germany would be able to significantly advance the political agenda at EU level, such expectations are even more prevalent now. At the same time, the institution of Council presidency has lost much of its bite under the Treaty of Lisbon. Germany does not only find itself wedged between different institutional actors with a limited time frame to achieve political results. It is also faced with an overcrowded agenda and many practical limitations caused by the pandemic. This policy brief analyses and assesses the expectations as regards the German Council presidency, in particular by considering the institutional context in which it operates and the limitations imposed by the pandemic.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Mack, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Mack, Sebastian}, title = {EU banks' vulnerabilities - Capital conservation key to withstanding Corona crisis}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-35234}, pages = {10}, abstract = {COVID-19 will hit financial institutions with a substantial time lag, but the coming storm will be fierce. The EU banking sector is entering the troubled waters of the Corona crisis with four major vulnerabilities: (1) Market and (2) funding liquidity risks have been mitigated by bold policy measures at EU and national level. (3) Concentration risk in banks' sovereign exposures could be addressed by a European recovery fund. The immense economic fallout will further depress banks' already weak (4) levels of profitability. Losses will erode banks' capital base, putting their viability at severe risk. Monetary, fiscal and prudential emergency measures are keeping the real economy afloat but fail to enhance banks' resilience. To withstand the crisis, EU policymakers should require banks to suspend all discretionary distributions and preserve capital instead.}, language = {en} } @techreport{WalterFranke, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Walter-Franke, Marie}, title = {Europe to the rescEU: The missing piece in EU migration management is civil protection}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-35847}, pages = {6}, abstract = {There is more than one solution to complex problems. While the EU struggles to solve the debate on asylum responsibility-sharing, Marie Walter-Franke proposes that rescEU, the European civil protection reserve, could become a complementary tool to face migration-related emergencies. Civil protection is a policy on the rise by which the EU provides tangible solidarity in crisis situations. After weighing the potential and limitations of using rescEU in the context of migration, Marie outlines three scenarios: (1) what can be done under the status quo; (2) how activation procedures could be streamlined; and (3) establishing a rescEU agency.}, language = {en} } @techreport{KoenigRubio, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Koenig, Nicole and Rubio, Eulalia}, title = {What the European Council's MFF / Recovery deal tells us about the EU's global ambition}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-35851}, pages = {4}, abstract = {After four days of intense negotiations, EU leaders have finally reached an agreement on the EU´s long-term EU budget and post-Covid recovery fund. The final compromise leaves mixed feelings. It truly constitutes a historically ambitious package which almost doubles EU spending for 2021-2024 with money raised on the financial markets. Internal solidarity and economic recovery are key pre-conditions for wielding power externally and being resilient to external influence. The contrast between the initial lack of intra-European solidarity and China's so-called "mask diplomacy" underlined by targeted disinformation illustrates this point. At the same time, we saw a traditional pattern in the European Council's budgetary negotiations: the compromise has been reached by largely preserving spending pre-allocated to Member States - e.g. agriculture and cohesion spending, the new facility providing support to national recovery and resilience plans - and by drastically cutting key EU programmes financing EU-level public goods and thus delivering added value for all - in areas such as research and innovation, mobility, development aid or internal and external security.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Rasche, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Rasche, Lucas}, title = {Four implications of the Covid-19 pandemic for the EU's asylum and migration policy}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-35865}, pages = {6}, abstract = {The outbreak of Covid-19 has disrupted all strands of EU policy-making. Discussions about the EU's immediate response to the pandemic focus predominantly on the bloc's economic recovery. However, mitigating its fallout in other branches of EU policy is equally necessary. The Union's area of free movements is among the policies most tangibly affected by the pandemic. While national border closures and regional lockdowns impaired EU citizens' ability to travel, they also had substantial consequences for migrants and asylum seekers.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Knudsen, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Knudsen, Edward L.}, title = {A kinder, gentler "America First?" Taking stock of transatlantic relations under Biden}, doi = {10.48462/opus4-3932}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-39323}, pages = {4}, abstract = {Over 100 days into the Biden administration, how have transatlantic relations shifted? This policy brief builds upon analysis from an October 2020 piece titled "No going back? A transatlantic cooperation agenda under Biden" and examines lessons for European policymakers from the first few months of Joe Biden's presidency. It argues that while Biden has retained many core parts of Donald Trump's "America First" agenda, there are still several promising avenues for transatlantic cooperation over the coming years. These include accelerated climate action, coordinated economic stimulus, and ensuring global vaccine access. Reaching these goals will require joint action to defuse geopolitical tensions and ensure greater economic justice at home and abroad.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Mack, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Mack, Sebastian}, title = {Turning green into gold - How to make the European green bond standard fit for purpose}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-42935}, pages = {8}, abstract = {Green bonds can play an important role when it comes to financing a more sustainable European economy. However, lack of transparency in today's market for them prevents green bonds from achieving their full potential. The European Commission's proposal for a European green bond standard (EuGBS) does little to fight greenwashing and foster investor confidence. To establish the EuGBS as the new gold standard, the European Parliament and EU Council should improve it in three respects. They should (i) strengthen its environmental credentials, (ii) regulate the entire green bond market and not just the EuGBS niche, and (iii) ensure the enforceability of investor rights. That way, a credible EU public standard can become the new benchmark on financial markets and make a positive impact on the environment.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Redeker, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Redeker, Nils}, title = {Same shock, different effects. EU member states' exposure to the economic consequences of Putin's war}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-42960}, pages = {9}, abstract = {The economic knock-on effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine are going to be felt throughout Europe. While the overall economic fallout is still difficult to predict, the impact will differ from country to country. This brief takes a very first look at divergences in exposure, focusing on direct trade links, potential costs of energy dependence on Russia and vulnerabilities towards rising energy prices more generally. It shows that the EU's member states' vulnerability to the economic consequences of the war is very unevenly distributed. To cushion the economic blow and ensure political unity, the EU will likely have to organise some sharing of the economic burden of this crisis.}, 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} } @techreport{HeimbachWernert, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Heimbach, Henriette and Wernert, Yann}, title = {Une pr{\´e}sidence du Conseil divis{\´e}e: La pr{\´e}sidence fran{\c{c}}aise du Conseil de l'Union europ{\´e}enne en p{\´e}riode {\´e}lectorale}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-42556}, pages = {8}, abstract = {La pr{\´e}sidence fran{\c{c}}aise du Conseil de l'UE au premier semestre 2022 aura lieu dans un contexte tr{\`e}s particulier. Alors que de nombreux dossiers europ{\´e}ens, tels la l{\´e}gislation sur les services num{\´e}riques ou le paquet « Fitfor55 » pour la protection du climat, doivent {\^e}tre finalis{\´e}s, la France se verra face {\`a} des {\´e}lections pr{\´e}sidentielles et l{\´e}gislatives {\`a} partir d'avril. Emmanuel Macron devra donc mettre {\`a} profit les trois premiers mois de cette pr{\´e}sidence pour marquer ses priorit{\´e}s politiques, faire avancer le projet europ{\´e}en et se d{\´e}marquer lors de la campagne {\´e}lectorale pour se faire r{\´e}{\´e}lire. Les {\´e}lections pr{\´e}sidentielles marqueront la fin de cette premi{\`e}re phase de la pr{\´e}sidence du Conseil, qui sera suivie par une phase technocratique, o{\`u} peu de d{\´e}cisions d'envergure sont attendues au niveau europ{\´e}en.}, language = {fr} } @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 = {Implementing Temporary Protection in the EU: From crisis response to long-term strategy}, pages = {9}, abstract = {Following the activation of the Temporary Protection Directive, Lucas Rasche argues in this Policy Brief that member states must urgently transition from crisis-response to developing a longer-term strategy for implementing temporary protection. This requires member states to shift from a reactive to a forward-looking policy. The Brief outlines four areas that will require particular attention in the months ahead: the disproportionate allocation of refugees across EU countries (i), the long-term financial costs of hosting refugees (ii), devising a tailored integration strategy (iii) and preparing for beneficiaries of temporary protection to transit into a durable protection status (iv). The Policy Brief then concludes by discussing the potential spill-over of activating the Temporary Protection Directive to the wider EU asylum policy.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Mack, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Mack, Sebastian}, title = {Beyond Wirecard - All of Europe needs independent financial supervisors}, pages = {11}, abstract = {Financial supervisory authorities in the EU are not sufficiently independent of political and economic influence. As the financial scandal surrounding Wirecard shows, this entails the risks of conflicts of interest that undermine the integrity of the European financial system and harm the goal of an integrated banking and capital markets union. That is why in his Policy Brief, Sebastian Mack proposes European-wide requirements for the independence, accountability and transparency of national financial regulators. Ten years after the establishment of the European System of Financial Supervision, it is high time to regulate the governance of national supervisory authorities across Europe and thereby strengthen financial supervision throughout the EU.}, language = {en} } @techreport{RascheWalterFranke, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Rasche, Lucas and Walter-Franke, Marie}, title = {EU border procedures: Clear, fair and fast? The "New Pact" in review}, pages = {6}, abstract = {The proposal for an asylum procedure at the EU's external borders, presented by the Commission at the end of September, is intended to ensure "clear, fair and faster" procedures, according to Commissioner Johansson. While the proposal has the potential to re-structure access to the European asylum system, achieving all three of these objectives simultaneously seems unrealistic. While speeding up the procedure at the border and simplifying its application, Lucas Rasche and Marie Walter-Franke argue that the proposal jeopardises the respect of fundamental rights and thus impedes the fairness of the procedure.}, language = {de} } @techreport{Mack, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Mack, Sebastian}, title = {Don't throw it under the Omnibus: The EU needs to make sustainability reporting more effective}, pages = {14}, abstract = {The Sustainability Omnibus marks the first in a series of European Commission initiatives aimed at simplifying EU regulation and significantly cutting red tape for businesses. Given inconsistencies, overlaps, and complexities in the existing framework, streamlining sustainable finance rules can enhance their effectiveness in supporting a transparent and sustainable economy. However, the sweeping changes proposed by the Commission are unlikely to ease administrative burdens meaningfully. Instead, they risk hampering green investment and weakening measures to manage climate-related risks. To ensure that a streamlined set of rules delivers real added value for European competitiveness, climate action and financial stability, this Policy Brief calls on EU co-legislators to make targeted adjustments that preserve the integrity of the sustainable finance framework and tighten enforcement.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Leichthammer, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Leichthammer, Arthur}, title = {Not a Flood but a Fault Line: The case for refined trade defence measures against Chinese overcapacity}, pages = {9}, abstract = {Chinese industrial overcapacities pose a structural threat to Europe's industrial competitiveness, particularly in strategically important sectors such as clean tech, machinery, and chemicals. With global trade tensions escalating and the risk of Chinese exports being redirected from the US to Europe, concerns are mounting over a potential surge in underpriced imports that could further erode the EU's manufacturing base. However, the threat is concentrated in a few sectors where Chinese overcapacity directly challenges key areas of EU industrial competitiveness. This policy brief argues that the EU does not need new instruments to respond, but rather a more strategic, sector-specific, and timely application of its existing trade defence tools.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Quaritsch, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Quaritsch, Luise}, title = {The EU's struggle to defend democracy from foreign interference}, pages = {6}, abstract = {Foreign interference in EU democracies has intensified in recent years. To counter this, the European Commission has proposed mandatory national transparency registers for third-country lobbying. In the European Parliament, this proposal has sparked political division. As negotiations on the draft legislation progress, concerns about potential negative consequences for civil society organisations have not gone away. In addition, it is unlikely that the new transparency measures would meaningfully address malign foreign interference.}, language = {en} } @techreport{ResendeCarvalhoCornagoHoeraetal., type = {Working Paper}, author = {Resende Carvalho, Lucas and Cornago, Elisabetta and H{\"o}ra, Etienne and J{\"a}ger, Philipp}, title = {Between a rock and a hard place: Europe's clean tech industry between Trump's policies and Chinese pressure}, publisher = {Bertelsmann Stiftung}, address = {G{\"u}tersloh}, pages = {16}, language = {en} } @techreport{Leichthammer, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Leichthammer, Arthur}, title = {The EU's critical raw materials predicament: ReSourceEU to the Rescue?}, pages = {9}, abstract = {The EU's dependence on highly concentrated critical raw material (CRM) supply chains, above all on China, has emerged as a central economic security vulnerability. The ReSourceEU Action Plan seeks to address this by accelerating selected projects, coordinating financing, establishing a coordination Centre, and strengthening resilience across CRM value chains through an encompassing policy framework. ReSourceEU makes effective use of constrained financial leeway and can viably stabilise a limited number of strategic bottlenecks: permanent magnets, batteries and defence-relevant inputs. However, it falls short of delivering a broader structural shift just yet. Many of the most consequential tools, such as joint purchasing, price stabilisation and diversification obligations, remain indicative or politically contingent. To reduce exposure more durably, the EU must now consolidate fragmented funding, anchor long-term demand, address refining chokepoints, and turn strategic partnerships into bankable, diversified supply.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Quaritsch, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Quaritsch, Luise}, title = {The European Democracy Shield - Papering over the cracks}, pages = {12}, abstract = {The European Commission's new Democracy Shield proposes roughly 50 action points over three priority areas: information space integrity, media and elections, and societal resilience and citizens' engagement. Most of the points are commitments to strengthen voluntary coordination and prepare guidance. They are largely additions to past initiatives, continuing the Commission's outsized focus on disinformation, rather than an attempt at innovation. There is a clear mismatch between the ambitious rhetoric around the announcement of the initiative and the small-scale solutions it offers. Nevertheless, the Democracy Shield can make useful additions to existing frameworks once implemented. It should, however, be seen as complementary to the use of other available instruments. Protecting European democracy requires consistent commitment to democratic values both at EU and at national level - not just the creation of additional strategies.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Hansum, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Hansum, Romy}, title = {Breaking the traps - Smarter regional allocation of EU cohesion spending 2028-2034}, pages = {10}, abstract = {The Commission's proposal for National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs) could offer a fresh start for the EU's cohesion policy after 2028. Given the mixed results and implementation difficulties of current cohesion instruments, the reform ambition is welcomed. However, some shortcomings of the proposal need to be addressed. In particular, the proposed regional allocation relies too narrowly on the category of less developed regions defined by regional GDP levels. This approach overlooks emerging and future regional divergences and allows too much national leeway. This Policy Brief therefore proposes a broader category of challenged regions that accounts not only for regional prosperity but also for development traps and regional vulnerabilities arising from demographic change and the green transition.}, language = {en} } @techreport{GuttenbergHemker, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Guttenberg, Lucas and Hemker, Johannes}, title = {Corona: A European Safety Net for the Fiscal Response}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-35107}, pages = {4}, abstract = {In order to avoid permanent scars from the economic impact of the Coronavirus in Europe, a determined fiscal response will be necessary. We argue that there should be a clear division of labor between Europe and national governments: the latter will have to provide stimulus with targeted measures, while Europe needs to build a safety net so that member states will not lose access to bond markets due to speculative attacks. This safety net should have three components: A commitment by member states to use ESM instruments without conditionality; a commitment by the ECB to use all of its tools; and a number of flanking measures to underscore member states' commitments.}, language = {en} }