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Facebook: Why Australia is not a model for the EU
Journalism’s business model is under pressure. This is related to a change in user behaviour as well as the power of big-tech giants such as Facebook who want to deprive publishers of advertising revenue and link to content without paying for it. A change in copyright law is urgently required. But how?
The Australian government has jumped in and forced Facebook to share part of its advertising revenue with conventional media companies. The tech giant is now even considering the “Australian solution” for Germany. What is needed, however, is an intelligent regulatory mechanism and not a populist system of taxes and levies. Pushing companies to make deals with media companies against their own interests is contrary to ordoliberal principles and is not a model for Germany or the EU. Publishers have already spoken. They fear that media houses will lose their independence - their fear is justified.
If the state wants to support independent journalism, it should reduce taxes for publishers and promote investment - and reclaim the lost revenue from Facebook by way of a digital tax. The social network did after all reduce its tax burden to a minimum recently.
Dr. Jörg Köpke
Head of Communications
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The EU Commission wants to present a legislative proposal to reduce methane emissions in 2021. The greenhouse gas methane has so far not been covered by emissions trading. The Centre for European Policy is calling on Brussels to include methane emissions in the energy and waste sectors into an emissions trading system.
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Regulating Crypto-Assets: Stablecoins
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Stable cryptocurrencies, so-called stablecoins, are on the rise. Tech giant Facebook is planning to launch the stablecoin Diem with more than 20 companies such as Spotify and Uber. The company's own crypto-based payment system is expected to emerge this year. The EU is working to create a legal framework.
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Deposit Guaranteeing in the EU: Taking Stock
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There are still high hurdles to overcome on the way to a common deposit insurance scheme for the Eurozone (EDIS), which the EU Commission is striving for. This is the result of an input by the Centre for European Policy (cep) comparing the banking systems of Germany, France and Italy.
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Three Steps Towards a European Health Union
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The Centrum für Europäische Politik calls for a change of the EU treaties. According to the Freiburg think tank, the Conference on the Future of Europe should pave the way towards a European Health Union. "The EU treaties should be amended to give the EU additional competences in certain areas," says cep health expert Dr Patrick Stockebrandt.
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“We need clarity on where Europe’s strengths are and where there may be strategic weaknesses and high-risk dependencies which could lead to supply shortages or cybersecurity risks.”
German Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel in an open letter to Commission President Dr. Ursula von der Leyen
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"Emissions trading for buildings requires an additional rule to provide the owners of rented property with the necessary incentive to renovate. The more money that stays with the owner, the greater the incentive to renovate and thus also the greater the reduction in CO2.”
cep President Prof. Dr. Lüder Gerken in the Badische Zeitung
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“As presidential candidate, Brexit chief negotiator Michel Barnier would certainly offer an interesting alternative for pro-Europeans who are disappointed with Macron.“
Dr. Julien Thorel, Director of the Centre de Politique Européenne, on Michel Barnier’s potential candidacy for President
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“The Digital Markets Act should establish rules of conduct to ensure that platforms such as Facebook do not abuse their market power.“
Dr. Matthias Kullas, cep Division Head Internal Market and Digital Markets
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Nuclear power still the mainstay of EU energy production
Despite the efforts towards energy transition, the share of nuclear energy in the EU still amounts to about a quarter of the total amount of energy produced, according to surveys from 2019. Of the 14 EU states with nuclear power plants, Germany remains the second-largest supplier, with France making by far the largest contribution of just under 400,000 gigawatt hours. However, mainly due to the nuclear phase-out in Germany, the share of this energy source in the EU has declined by almost 16 per cent in the last 15 years.
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