European commission

Beyond the numbers of EU national energy and climate plans

The authors conduct a simple relative frequency analysis for a series of words mentioned in the NECPs to identify interesting policy insights within

The rocky road to EU accession for Western Balkan countries: obstacles and lessons from the Eastern Partnership

The three eastern European states had practically no waiting time before being accepted as candidate countries right after application

Broader border taxes: a new option for European Union budget resources

The purpose of this paper is to review the Commission’s proposal and to contribute new ideas for ‘genuine’ own resources

European capital markets union: make it or break it

Capital markets union has not delivered, but it should be given a last chance, with a focus on supervisory integration

A smart solar strategy for Europe

Smart measures, not tariffs or blunt subsidies, should be deployed to strengthen Europe’s standing in solar power

Assessing the Ecofin compromise on fiscal rules reform

The compromise reached by the Ecofin Council is imperfect. But it is still a big step forward.

The benefits of bringing the Western Balkans into the European Semester

Integrating the Western Balkan countries into the European Union’s European Semester process is both feasible and desirable.

When will the European Union finally get the budget it needs?

The EU budget needs radical reform, but certain conditions must be in place for it to succeed.

The limits of the effectiveness of EU sanctions on Russia

Rule of law rules future European Union enlargement

Clearer rule of law standards are needed to prevent strategic use of corruption in both enlargement countries and the current EU.

What will it cost the European Union to pay its economic recovery debt?

Servicing the EU debt until 2058 seems feasible, despite increased borrowing costs, but member countries must make choices about budget funding

Europe’s strategic challenge

The EU should pursue ‘gradual and pragmatic federalism,’ underpinned by essential governance reform.

European Union grain imports from Ukraine: the right decision and a cynical rebellion

The European Commission was right to let restrictive measures on Ukrainian grain lapse, but the decision has had negative side-effects.

Making the most of Europe’s anti-subsidy probe into Chinese electric vehicles

The EU anti-subsidy investigation into EVs from China is a reminder of the need for a new EU green industrial policy strategy.

European Union debt financing: leeway and barriers from a legal perspective

The paper investigates the legal feasibility of the EU borrowing on the capital market to finance European public goods.

Competition with politicisation is not competition, it’s harmful protectionism

The European Union should reaffirm the principle that undue interference in competition enforcement is protectionism that has negative effects.