|
|
|
Dear Readers,
A green, digital, resilient Europe: Ursula von der Leyen issued this demand in her State of the Union Address on 16 September 2020. The Commission President wanted the EU to emerge stronger from the Corona pandemic. One year later, however, Europe’s battle against the economic and social consequences of COVID 19 continues unabated. Added to this, there are foreign policy trouble spots in Belarus, Afghanistan and China. So there will be no lack of subject-matter when von der Leyen reports once again on the state of the EU in Strasbourg on 15 September.
In turbulent times like these, the Centrum für Europäische Politik provides reliability. This month, we are taking a look at the digital compass, which the Commission will be submitting on 14 September. We will discuss the new health authority, HERA, and bring you up to date regarding the consultation on the green taxonomy. On 10 September, the Eurogroup is likely to be dealing with the introduction of the Euro in Bulgaria. The eastern European country is considered to be a model student when it comes to finance policy but at the same time a hotspot for corruption and money laundering. Lots to look forward to.
Interested?
Then I wish you an enjoyable read.
Best wishes Dr. Jörg Köpke
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
On 15 September, Ursula von der Leyen will deliver her second State of the Union Address in Strasbourg. The Commission President will continue to focus on two priorities: the European Green Deal and the digital strategy. Von der Leyen has stated, in the run up, that we need to combine our strengths to bring the social market economy into line with today’s objectives.
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
Latest EU Proposals in Focus of the cep
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
Digital Decade: How Will the EU Achieve its Digital Goals
On 14 September 2021, the Commission will submit its programme to implement the Digital Compass in which it will set out how it intends to achieve its digital goals. The goals include ensuring that, by 2030, at least 80% of the population have basic digital skills, 75% of companies use cloud computing services, big data and Artificial Intelligence, that 5G is available in all populated areas and 80% of citizens use a digital ID solution (such as the electronic identity card).
|
|
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tariff Preference Scheme Low Customs Tariffs Will Support Developing Countries
On 22 September 2021, the Commission will submit its proposal for a successor Regulation to the generalised tariff preference scheme [Regulation (EU) No. 978/2012]. The generalised tariff preference scheme ensures that imports from developing countries to the EU are subject to lower or no customs charges. This aims to boost social standards and economic development. In return, the Union expects improvements in the areas of human rights, labour standards, sustainable development and good governance. The successor Regulation will continue to grant unilateral tariff concessions to developing countries. The existing Regulation will remain valid until 31 December 2023.
|
|
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EU Health Union: New Authority HERA Will Equip The EU For Crisis Situations
On 14 September, the Commission will submit a draft bill for a new EU authority. The Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) will commence work at the start of 2022. The authority will help the EU to deal with severe, cross-border health risks. HERA’s full remit has not yet been defined. It will certainly ensure that, in an emergency, all Member States receive fast and equal access to medical countermeasures. That includes personal protective equipment, ventilators, tests and test materials as well as vital medicines. Member States will be helped to finance and procure protective equipment. The aim is to improve development, production and sales capacity.
|
|
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The EU Commission regularly asks stakeholders and interested parties from civil society for their opinion. Here is our short-list of the most important consultations:
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
CLP Regulation Commission Wants to Make Handling Chemicals Safer
The Commission wants to revise the Regulation on the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures [CLP Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008]. The Regulation will stipulate how the dangers posed by chemicals are determined and evaluated as well informing consumers of possible risks. The consultation will allow the Commission to obtain feedback from citizens, companies and authorities on how to improve the safe use of chemicals and how the existing rules can be simplified.
The submission period for opinions ends on 15 November 2021.
Go to consultation
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Green Taxonomy Drafts Involving Four Further Environmental Objectives
The Commission’s proposals on the green taxonomy have reached the next round. Since 3 August 2021, drafts on four further environmental objectives have been available from the Platform on Sustainable Finance, an advisory body of the Commission. These concern the sustainable use and protection of water and maritime resources, the change to a circular economy, the avoidance and reduction of environmental pollution as well as the protection and restoration of biodiversity & ecosystems. The Platform wants to use the consultation to gather opinions on its still provisional ideas.
The Council and the Parliament already agreed on a classification system for sustainable economic activities in December 2019 (see cepAdhoc 1/2020). The Regulation came into force in July 2020. In order to be considered ecologically sustainable, economic activities must make a “substantial” contribution to at least one of six environmental objectives and must do no “significant” harm to any of these environmental objectives. By way of delegated acts, the Commission will establish technical screening criteria for each environmental objective. It has already done this for the first two environmental objectives, climate protection and adaptation to climate change (see Climate Taxonomy).
The submission period for opinions ends on 24 September 2021.
Go to consultation
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10-11 September 2021
Brdo, Slovenia
Meeting of Ministers for Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN) The meeting concerns, among other things, the sustainable financing of the economy. In addition, the Eurogroup is also meeting.
13 September 2021
Strasbourg, France
Debate on extending the competences of the EU Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (see cepPolicyBrief 17/2021) and on the Regulation on serious cross-border threats to health (see cepPolicyBrief 19/2021).
14 September 2021
Brussels, Belgium
Presentation of a legislative package to create the new EU Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA).
15 September 2021
Strasbourg, France
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, will deliver her annual State of the Union Address before the European Parliament.
17-19 and 24-26 September 2021
Conference on the Future of Europe
Start of the European Citizens Forums (see cepAdhoc 1/2021 - only published in German).
29 September 2021
Brussels, Belgium
The responsible ministers from the Member States are meeting in the Competitiveness Council to discuss issues relating to the internal market and industry.
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
cepPolicyBrief: Serious Cross-Border Threats to Health
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
The Corona pandemic led to a cross-border health emergency in the European Union. In future, Brussels wants to determine, on the basis of a Regulation, when such an emergency begins and when it ends.
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
cepPolicyBrief: Offshore Renewable Energy
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
The EU wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 (“climate neutrality”). For this purpose, the production of renewable offshore energy, such as wind, wave and tidal energy, will be increased fivefold from the current twelve gigawatt to a total of 61 by 2030. As a result, the level of renewable energy as a proportion of energy consumption in the EU should rise significantly.
Go to cepPolicyBrief 18/2021
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
cepPolicyBrief: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
The Corona pandemic led to a cross-border health emergency in the European Union and has revealed shortcomings in the management of health threats. In order to improve preparedness and the capacity to respond, the EU Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) will take on a key role in the future.
Go to cepPolicyBrief 17/2021
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
cepPolicyBrief: Adaptation to Climate Change
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
The effects of climate change - heat waves, droughts, storms, heavy rain and flooding as well as the damage caused to the ecosystem - causes significant economic loss to the EU running into billions. In order to become more resilient to this (“climate resilient”), the Commission has submitted a strategy with measures for adapting to climate change. Thus dams and flood planes will be extended to protect against flooding and more green spaces will be created to reduce the effects of heat waves.
Go to cepPolicyBrief 16/2021
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A selection from among the 20 press reports on the work of the Centrum für Europäische Politik that appeared in August 2021.
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“Exporters in Europe are paying a high price for climate measures”
In a guest article for Bremen’s Weser-Kurier, cep President, Professor Lüder Gerken, criticised the Commission’s plans for a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The idea of a surcharge on imports manufactured under less stringent climate protection rules will only protect companies within the EU. On the world market, however, they will be at a disadvantage.
Weser-Kurier of 14 August 2021
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“The EU wants control over the health emergency”
Die Welt picked up on a cepPolicyBrief by Nathalja Nolen and Patrick Stockebrandt on planned reforms to EU health policy. The lawyers warned that the Commission was not giving Member States sufficient consultation rights.
Die Welt of 17 August 2021
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“The EU is not the same as it was thirty years ago”
In an article on the relationship between Switzerland and the Union, the Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) highlighted the approach of the Centrum für Europäische Politik. cep rightly criticises breaches of EU law by the Commission on a regular basis.
NZZ of 18 August 2021
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
Recommend our newsletter to others or sign up!
|
|
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
