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Dear Readers,
On 1 July, Spain took over the rotating EU Council Presidency from Sweden, and on 23 July, held a snap general election. The incumbent Prime Minister Sánchez, leader of the current social democratic minority government, ordered early elections a few months ago and, on taking over the Council Presidency, postponed his acceptance speech to the EU Parliament, as a precautionary measure, from July to September. The conservative party "Partido Popular" (PP), with its leading candidate Núñez Feijóo, won the election as expected, but forming a government will be complicated in view of the distribution of seats and will probably take some time – possibly up until a new general election.
In any case, a government containing right-wing populist, Eurosceptic and in some cases separatist forces cannot be ruled out. Spain is continuing a trend that has been observed elsewhere in Europe for some time: the division of society along with an erosion of the political centre. Looking towards next year's European elections, this will also have repercussions for the European Union as a whole. Europe will therefore be riveted by events in Madrid in the coming days and weeks; after Italy with Giorgia Meloni, a second western EU Member State is now threatening to succumb to Eurosceptic, nationalistic politics. This would be an historic test of endurance for the EU, at a time when it is geopolitically challenged as never before.
The Centrum für Europäische Politik will continue to monitor the situation in Europe.
Stay tuned!
Prof. Dr Henning Vöpel
Director |
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| Latest EU Proposals in Focus |
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EMA fees: Parliament Gives Green Light to Trilogue Negotiations
When a medicinal product is to receive an EU marketing authorisation, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) assesses its quality, safety and efficacy. The applicants are charged fees for this service but the current fee system is almost 20 years old and needs reform. The Commission presented a proposal to this effect in December 2022 [COM (2022) 721] which aims to compensate for a misalignment between the current fees and the EMA’s costs for providing the services. In addition, according to the Commission, there is a need for greater flexibility in the fee system when it comes, for example, to pharmaceutical innovations that require more complex assessment procedures. Following the Council’s agreement on a negotiating position in June, the Parliament has now also given the green light to trilogue negotiations, which will start soon. |
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Sustainability: EU Commission Publishes First Set of Reporting Standards
Since 5 January 2023, the new Directive (EU) 2022/2464 on Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) has been in force (see cepPolicyBrief 21/2021). The CSRD replaces the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) and obliges a large number of companies to include sustainability-related information in their management reports. The CSRD stipulates that the Commission must adopt several delegated acts to specify the content and structure of sustainability reporting. On 31 July 2023, the Commission has now published its long-awaited first set of non-sector-specific sustainability reporting standards, which are relevant for all companies subject to the CSRD. The now published legal act must now be examined by the European Parliament (EP). If they do not reject it, it will apply from 1 January 2024 for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2024. More information on the submission of the first set of reporting standards can be found in a cepNews. |
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| The Commission, the Council and the European Parliament regularly negotiate in the so-called trilogue on EU legislative proposals in order to find a common position. We have put together a summary of the most important trilogue decisions since the last Newsletter. |
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Trilogue Agreement on the Ozone Regulation
On 13 June, a preliminary political agreement was reached on the Ozone Regulation. The EU has thereby imposed a ban on the production, sale, use, import and export of substances that deplete the ozone layer (ozone depleting substances, ODS). ODS may now only be used where an exemption applies, i.e. as feedstock, as process agents, in laboratories and for fire protection in aircraft. In addition, the Commission will update the list of banned ODS at least every four years and check whether alternatives are available. Training programmes are also stipulated for professionals carrying out the recovery of ODS from building materials (e.g. insulation foams) during renovations. |
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Capital Markets Union: Agreement on Rules for Investment Funds
On 20 July 2023, the European Parliament (EP) and the Council reached a provisional political agreement on the revision of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFM Directive 2011/61/EU) and the Directive on undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities (UCITS Directive 2009/65/EC). The Commission originally initiated the revision of the two Directives in November 2021 [COM(2021) 721, see cepPolicyBrief 07/2022]. "Alternative Investment Funds" (AIFs) are funds that acquire money mainly from professional investors for the purpose of investment. These funds include private equity funds, hedge funds, commodity and real estate funds. UCITS are funds whose sole purpose is to invest money obtained from the public for collective investment in transferable securities, whereby investors may redeem and withdraw units at any time on demand. UCITS investment funds are primarily aimed at retail investors. Under the revision of the AIFM and UCITS Directives, uniform EU requirements for alternative investment funds (AIF) that grant loans to companies ("loan funds") will be brought in for the first time. In addition, new requirements for the activation of liquidity management instruments will be created to ensure that funds are better equipped to deal with the pressure to return funds in difficult market situations, and at the same time to ensure investor protection. The EP and the Council also agreed on stricter rules for "delegation agreements" which allow fund managers, subject to certain conditions, to instruct third parties to carry out tasks on their behalf. The provisional agreement must now be formally adopted by the EP and the Council and thereafter the two revised directives can enter into force. |
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| The EU Commission asks decision-makers and interested parties from civil society for their opinion on European policy proposals. Here is our short-list of the most important consultations: |
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Heat Pumps: Accelerated Roll-out in the EU
The use of heat pumps in buildings, industry and local heat networks aims to support the goals of the European Green Deal and the REPowerEU initiative [see cepAktuell], such as the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The Commission is using the Consultation to gather views on barriers to the roll-out of heat pumps in the EU.
The submission period for opinions ends on 30 August 2023.
Go to Consultation |
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Genetically Modified Plants: Commission Proposal Published
At the beginning of July, the Commission presented a proposal on new legislation for genetically modified plants [COM (2023) 411]. Plants derived from new genomic techniques and used in feed and food products are expected to become more resistant to disease and environmental conditions such as extreme heat. This could save pesticides and natural resources such as water. With the new legislation, the Commission is aiming to maintain a high level of protection for the environment and for human and animal health. It will also support implementation of the "Green Deal" and the "Farm to Fork” Strategy (see cepPolicyBrief). Stakeholders can now give their opinion on the Commission's proposal.
The submission period for opinions ends on 13 September 2023.
Go to Consultation |
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Cybersecurity: Evaluation of ENISA and the EU Cybersecurity Certification Framework
On 14 July 2023, the Commission held an Exploratory Consultation regarding the evaluation of Regulation (EU) 2019/881 on the EU Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) and on cybersecurity certification for information and communications technology (see cepPolicyBrief 6/2018 on ENISA and cepPolicyBrief 16/2018 on cybersecurity certification). The Regulation, which has been in force since 2019, sets out the objectives, tasks and organisation of ENISA and establishes a framework for defining European schemes for cybersecurity certification. By June 2024, the Commission must carry out an evaluation of the Regulation in which it must assess in particular whether ENISA is fulfilling its tasks, mandate and objectives satisfactorily, and whether there is a need to reform its mandate. The impact, effectiveness and efficiency of the cybersecurity certification requirements will also be examined. The Consultation now submitted will support the Commission in this evaluation.
The submission period for opinions ends on 16 September 2023.
Go to Consultation |
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Retail: Resilient, Digital and Green
The Commission is seeking feedback on its working document outlining the main challenges and opportunities of the transition to a more resilient, digital and green retail ecosystem. In its consultation, it asks, among other things, what are the main challenges and possible solutions to make the retail green and digital transition fair and equitable for workers, consumers and SMEs.
The submission period for opinions ends on 26 September 2023.
Go to Consultation |
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31 August 2023
Barcelona
Meeting of experts. This concerns Europe's Beating Cancer Plan. |
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| cepInput: The EU’s Desire for Sovereignty Lays it Open to Blackmail |
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| | Poland and Hungary are increasingly abusing the EU's unanimity principle to block decisions and assert their own interests. They undermine European values and ultimately the sovereignty of the EU with attacks on the rule of law. And there is little prospect of a solution. A study by the Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) shows that expulsion may be just as difficult to implement as an "EU 2.0".
Go to cepInput |
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| cepInput: Recycling Green Technologies of the Future |
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| | Access to coveted metals is key to the success of the energy transition. Recycling is the missing link in the European Green Deal - environmentally friendly and a theoretically endless source of supply. The Centre for European Policy (cep) has investigated the recycling potential of permanent magnets for wind power and e-mobility. Result: the obstacles still outweigh the benefits.
Go to cepInput |
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| The new international website "Common Ground of Europe" is an initiative of the Centres for European Policy Network (cep). On the commongroundeurope.eu website, cep collects mainly English-language contributions, articles and interviews from decision-makers and experts in politics, business and science. We cordially invite you to take a look through our window on Europe. Here are some examples from the past month. |
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Jürgen Stark: "The Stability Pact is Dead"
In an exclusive interview with cep’s Head of Communications, Jörg Köpke, former ECB banker Jürgen Stark takes a tough line with his successors. He predicts prolonged high inflation - and the de facto end of the stability pact.
Go to article |
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Metaverse Momentum for European Healthcare
Virtual worlds will revolutionise healthcare. By combining virtual reality with biofeedback, this so-called Metaverse will enable innovative forms of diagnosis and therapy. Gaining consumer trust, however, requires a European quality label for the protection of data.
Go to article |
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Right-of-way Rules Instead of Stop Signs: Why now is not the Time for Europe to Lose Touch with Artificial Intelligence
There is still a long way to go before AI is widely used in Europe. But in view of the enormous acceleration now taking place, we need smart right-of-way rules, not stop signs, otherwise Europe will get left behind.
Go to article |
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...and will they be on Germany soon too?
What was long considered unassailable in this country, due to a socially and economically relatively stable society, is visibly slipping, namely trust in democracy and its institutions - accompanied by rumblings and forebodings of an economic decline. One does not have to make comparisons with the Weimar Republic to understand the dangers that can arise from this development. It is therefore high time to rebuild trust, which also means becoming more conciliatory in language and dialogue. If we do not control ourselves, society itself will run out of control. We need to regain the ability to be constructive when it comes to the really important problems. There are certainly enough of those, and people are waiting for sensible solutions that are sustainable but also realistic.
Yours
Henning Vöpel
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