78314 research outputs found
Sort by
Why the Ukraine crisis should push the UK and EU into a tighter embrace on security policy. CEPS Policy Contribution February 2022.
Full text linkOne of the costs of Brexit is the weakened ability of both the UK and the EU to shape a strong joint response to Russia’s threats to pan-European security. In the standoff over Ukraine, the need for close cross-Channel cooperation is particularly acute for any effective sanctions package negotiated with the US. Yet, post-Brexit relations between the UK and the EU are currently governed by a narrow Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) which does not include a designated chapter on political dialogue and that, barring a handful of exceptions, does not contain any provisions on cooperation on foreign and security matters. Fortunately, the preparatory work undertaken to reach the bilateral accord contains the answer to the question on how trust between the parties can be regained through procedural means. This policy brief highlights the embers of the Brexit bonfire that might be raked up to rekindle the flame of dialogue and cooperation between the UK and the EU in foreign affairs and security policy
Legal options for a green golden rule in the European Union’s fiscal framework. Bruegel Policy Contribution Issue n˚13/22 | July 2022.
Full text linkAchieving the European Union’s climate goals and decoupling from Russian energy will require a massive increase in green public spending, which will be difficult when EU fiscal rules requiring fiscal consolidation are reinstated.
The two major proposals to address the conflicting goals of fiscal consolidation and increased green public investment needs are a possible new European climate investment fund and a green golden rule. The latter would exclude any increase in net green public investment from the fiscal indicators used to measure compliance with fiscal rules, for countries with sound public finances.
An EU climate fund and a well-designed green golden rule would be equivalent in terms of project selection, implementation and control procedures.
If the climate fund does not involve redistribution across member states, then the treatment of related spending and consequent borrowing in national fiscal indicators and in the EU’s fiscal framework would be the same. New regulations would be needed to set up both the climate fund and the green golden rule. Special legislation would be needed to exempt the subsequent climate expenditures from EU fiscal rules in both cases.
A climate fund financed by EU borrowing with redistributive effects across countries would likely result in the exclusion of the fund’s activities from national fiscal indicators and EU fiscal rules without any legislative changes. There are question marks about the desirability and political feasibility of redistribution across the EU for climate purposes.
An EU climate fund, irrespective of whether or not it involves redistribution, would mainly benefit southern and eastern EU countries. An instrument is needed to foster green public investment in western and northern EU countries as well. The green golden rule would be such an instrument.
While there are some pragmatic options to mimic a green golden rule in the current EU fiscal framework, such as amending the so-called ‘investment clause’ and adjusting the medium-term objective for the structural balance, ultimately, elements of the 2011 Six-Pack legislation and the 2012 Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance should be revised to include a green golden rules
The new ‘Concept on EU Peace Mediation’: boosting EU capacities in crisis response and conflict resolution? College of Europe Policy Brief April 2021.
Full text linkA decade after the adoption of the ‘Concept on Strengthening EU Mediation and Dialogue Capacities’, the EU presented the new ‘Concept on EU Peace Mediation’ in December 2020. Despite the 2009 concept’s importance for strengthening EU mediation capacities, there had been a persistent plea for updating the mediation concept in order to better outline the EU’s priorities and objectives in peace mediation and adapting them to a new geopolitical context. The new concept clearly delivers on these points.
The birth of the EU’s new concept on mediation and its enhanced ambition sensibly align with the EU’s unveiled ambition for a greater ‘geopolitical’ role. As the new concept underlines, the EU’s peace mediation efforts add to its geopolitical power and should not be seen as opposed to a vision of the EU becoming a more assertive global actor.
Although the new framework is a positive step towards a politically and operationally more coherent EU mediation practice, open questions remain regarding the political and institutional conditions of an effective practical implementation of the new concept.
Going forward, the EU should further invest in institutionalising cooperation with member states in mediation, improve communication practices regarding its mediation activities and mainstream the mediation concept into its strategic and programming documents
Balkan and Eastern European Comparisons: Building a New Momentum for the European integration of the Balkan and Eastern European associated states. CEPS Policy Contribution 25 Feb 2021.
Full text linkThe EU created the Eastern Partnership (EaP) over a decade ago, opening up new possibilities for growth and investment for the six partner countries: Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia and Azerbaijan. In 2014, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, known as the EU-associated Trio, signed association agreements (AAs), which since then have helped them to advance further with governance reforms.
The AAs have provided for an ambitious and wide-ranging policy dialogue and cooperation with the EU, including deep and comprehensive free trade agreements that are the most advanced integration instruments of the EU to date. This courageous step by the EU has opened a new chapter in the relationship with our eastern neighbours, helping them to commit to comprehensive governance reforms as well as policy dialogue.
The EU East Neighbourhood region has seen more than a decade of conflict – Russia at war with Georgia, then with Ukraine, its eastern territories occupied, and Crimea annexed. The EU and the wider global community responded by developing a comprehensive strategy to assist reforms in Ukraine but fell short of wider-reaching policy proposals for deeper integration with the EU. Nonetheless, the most advanced countries of the EaP have embarked on a path of difficult and painful policy reforms in such sensitive sectors as justice, budgets, land, pensions, state-owned enterprises, education and social policy.
Despite both hidden and open wars with Russia and the continuous negative hybrid influences, illicit financial flows and corrupt practices inherited from Soviet times and coming from Putin’s regime, the EU-associated Trio has achieved a lot. The exemplary progress of these countries has brought more stability and prosperity to the region. Moreover, in the first five years of association, the Trio has been able to catch up with the countries of the Western Balkans, which already had an EU membership perspective as a result of the resolute EU policy launched in the region nearly ten years ago.
Now, the EaP region is approaching a new wave of changes. Constant geopolitical shifts have culminated in the democratic changes we are observing in the eastern neighbourhood today. It is today that the EU must take the next brave geopolitical step. It is today, when the people in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood – in the middle of the European continent – are demanding change, democracy and respect for human rights, starting with events in Belarus and Russia. It is today that our policy has to grow in ambition if the EU wants to remain geopolitical for the next decade
Shaping return to work policy: Current involvement and future potential of EU social dialogue. CEPS Project Report 04 Feb 2021.
Full text linkThis working paper examines the European Union policy framework on return to work after chronic disease and the potential for EU industrial relations actors to contribute to shaping policy in this area. It is part of the “Negotiating return to work in the age of demographic change through industrial relations (REWIR)” project
History matters for the EU’s geopolitical ambitions. EPC Commentary July 2021.
Full text linkWhile Europe has a decent record in dealing with the consequences of its bloody modern history, it is only now beginning to confront the collective amnesia regarding its behaviour during the colonial era. If the Union wants to realise its geopolitical ambition to be a global player, EU leaders should deal with the impact of past colonial misdeeds head-on and ensure that EU diplomats and younger Europeans are aware of how our history affects the present.
Europeans have warmly embraced US President Joe Biden as a friend and partner. As they seek more geopolitical impact, EU leaders would do well to also listen to the president’s views on history and the power of remembrance. Speaking on the centenary of the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, Biden urged Americans to be honest about their history, insisting that great nations “come to terms with their dark sides”
Anticipatory democracy: Harnessing the power of people and strategic foresight. EPC Commentary May 2021.
Full text linkOpen, pluralistic and liberal democracies must adapt to the current uncertainty and speed of change while maintaining its defining characteristics. Anticipatory democracy, which joins strategic foresight and democracy, can improve democratic policymaking through partnerships, better governance models and societal resilience.
2020 was the worst year for democracy since 2005. According to Freedom House, last year saw the greatest expansion of authoritarian rule and erosion of freedoms and democracy worldwide, powered by the pandemic. The independent watchdog is not alone: The Economist Intelligence Unit and Bertelsmann Stiftung point to the same downward trend – even if, according to the latter, the growth of authoritarianism was met with popular resistance.
In the age of permacrisis, the world we live in will continue to be characterised by high levels of uncertainty, fragility and unpredictability. The pressure on democracy and freedoms is likely to worsen if EU institutions, governments and societies fail to reform and adapt to this new reality
With ‘g’ greater than ‘r’, should we be borrowing to increase Irish housing supply? ESRI Special Article June 2021.
Full text linkIn this Article, we address one of the major policy issues in the Irish economy at present, namely the undersupply of residential housing. Particularly given the recent, adverse impacts of pandemic-related public health restrictions on housing supply, we argue that a significant increase in the provision of publicly provided housing is now required to help bridge the growing gap between actual supply levels and the structural demand for housing. To investigate the public financing of such an investment we examine the future conduct of Irish fiscal policy. Given the expected strong post-COVID-19 performance of the Irish economy and the likely continued low cost of sovereign debt, we argue that the adoption of a consistently negative Government primary balance can be pursued under a prudent and sustainable set of conditions. Such a policy could provide the Exchequer with an additional annual amount of between €4 billion and €7 billion
Scoping papers for research on 'The economic and social opportunities from increased cooperation on the shared island'. ESRI Survey and Statistical Report Series 106 May 2021.
Full text linkThe research topics for 2021 under the programme span areas of the services economy, enterprise, health and education on the island and full reports are to be published later this year. These research outputs which will add to the understanding of current and potential linkages across the island of Ireland in a range of economic, social and environmental areas
Growing Up in Ireland: Social-emotional and behavioural outcomes in early adolescence. ESRI Report March 2021.
Full text linkGrowing up in Ireland today published a new report which documents the mental health and well-being of the 13-years-olds in the study and examines factors that were associated with these outcomes. Turning 13 is a key stage in the lives of Cohort ’98 as they transitioned from primary to secondary school and entered puberty, all in the context of the Great Recession of 2008-2013