@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} }