Farewell to the spirit of optimism?

Just when the Green Deal and plans for a European digital strategy had given rise to a slight feeling of optimism in the EU, the subject of migration and the Corona virus brought everyone back down to earth with a bump. We do not wish to add to the speculation about the consequences of the virus for the European economy; though these cannot be denied. Not to mention the fact that both problem areas clearly demonstrate how dependent everyone is on each other in the EU. Since the virus does not stop at borders, joint action is required. Joint action will also be crucial when it comes to solving the refugee crisis. The EU must now show that it has learned its lessons from 2015; in the interests not only of the refugees but also of its citizens!

Harald Händel
Head of Communication

Liability for illegal content online

The EU-Commission has announced that it will update liabilities rules for digital services and products. Concrete proposals are to be published in the 4th quarter of 2020.

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Data Pools as information exchanges between competitors

Last year the European Commission announced the launch of an antitrust investigation into the Insurance Ireland data pooling system. The Commission wants to assess whether the conditions of access to the system are in breach of Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which prohibits anticompetitive agreements.

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The money of tomorrow?

Cryptocurrencies, stablecoins and central bank digital currencies. What will the money of the future look like? A cepInput provides information about what money is, what it looks like today and what it might look like in the future.

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European strategy for artificial intelligence

The European Commission launched an European strategy for artificial intelligence (AI) and released a White Paper on it. Based on a leaked Commission document, cep had assessed the plans in advance.

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Quotes

“It’s not for us to adapt to online platforms, it’s for the platforms to adapt to Europe.”
Thierry Breton, EU Commissioner for Internal Market

“In the chaotic situation, the EU must exercise order and humanity.”
Green Party leader Annalena Baerbock on the refugee crisis

“If the situation demands that such a stimulus is necessary, we have the means to introduce a fiscal stimulus program.”
Finance Minister Olaf Scholz on the impact of the Corona virus

“With its plans for an EU climate law, the EU Commission is trying to retain long-term sovereignty over climate policy within the EU power structure until 2050. For many EU Member States, this will be going too far; for many EU parliamentarians, not far enough.”
Dr. Götz Reichert, cep-Climate Expert

Facts

How much do governments spend on environmental protection?

The EU's 27 Member States spent almost €106 billion of government expenditure on environmental protection, representing 1.7% of total government expenditure. This is equivalent to 0.8% of GDP.

The highest share of environmental protection expenditure is in the Netherlands, the lowest in Finland. At 0.6% of GDP, Germany was below the average for the European Union (EU 27).

(Source: Eurostat)

And finally

Who fills the hole? Germany, of course. #brexit #EU
https://twitter.com/cicero_online/status/1231152412041383936

The cepNewsletter is published every first Wednesday of the month.

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Image Sources: Header, Facts and publications: shutterstock, eurostat
Quotes: SPD Hamburg/Sabrina Theissen (Olaf Scholz), Die Grünen, Stefan Kaminski (Baerbock), EC Audiovisual Service (Breton), cep (Reichert)
And finally: Heiko Sakurai, Cicero (Twitter)
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