Research
What to expect from the Digital Markets Act
05 March 2024
Thanks to the Digital Markets Act, large tech firms must now give Europeans more choices about how online services work. But competition authorities will see few reasons to relax.
A new equilibrium in Northern Ireland: Can it last?
01 March 2024
The agreement between the British government and the Democratic Unionist Party addresses immediate challenges but falls short of resolving Northern Ireland’s Brexit conundrum.
Europe and the superpowers: Responding to economic nationalism
26 February 2024
Superpower competition poses a significant challenge for Europe's trade-intensive economy. The EU must evolve its toolkit and economic model to respond.
Helping Europe's digital economy take off: An agenda for the next Commission
20 February 2024
The EU must simplify its digital rulebook, support more privacy-friendly data-driven innovation, and boost investment in digital infrastructure.
How should Europe handle China?: Annual report 2023
09 February 2024
The CER's annual report starts with an essay on how should Europe handle China. The report then highlights some of the CER's most important publications and events from 2023.
European Electricity Market Reform – ambitions and realities
08 February 2024
The EU’s electricity market reforms do a good job of promoting more stable energy prices. But member-states must do more to deliver a fully integrated EU-wide energy market.
Europe should look to the West Bank
06 February 2024
The misery of the Gaza war threatens to spill over into a broader conflict. If they want to avoid escalation and advance peace, Europeans need a serious plan for the West Bank.
Delors, Schäuble and Europe's misdiagnosed competitiveness problem
30 January 2024
European Commission President Jacques Delors and German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble left their mark on the European project. Their thinking can still help Europe out of its current geo-economic predicament.
Brexit, four years on: Answers to two trade paradoxes
25 January 2024
Since the UK left the EU in 2020, its goods exports to the EU have not performed any worse than to the rest of the world, and its services exports have grown strongly. How come?
Europe and the US election: Hope for the best, prepare for the worst
22 January 2024
There is a good chance that Donald Trump will return to the US presidency in 2025. That would endanger European interests, but Europe is not investing in mitigating the risks.
Can European defence take off?
19 January 2024
The EU’s defence industrial policies will help determine whether Europeans can increase their ability to provide support to Ukraine, persuading Russia that its war is unwinnable.
A sea of troubles: Addressing the EU's incoherence on the Indo-Pacific
08 January 2024
A security crisis in the Indo-Pacific would severely affect European interests.
Ten reflections on Jacques Delors
04 January 2024
Jacques Delors’ impact on history, especially during the ten years that he headed the European Commission, was immense.
How to minimise the 'greenlash'
18 December 2023
A backlash over the EU’s green policies is not inevitable. Policy-makers should focus on designing green policies that make decarbonisation affordable, and highlight its social benefits.
Why Europe should not worry about US out-performance
13 December 2023
The US has had stronger growth than Europe recently – but its out-performance is easily explainable. Instead of worrying about the US, Europe should focus on itself and avoid repeating past mistakes.
In tech, the death of the Brussels effect is greatly exaggerated
08 December 2023
The US and post-Brexit Britain want to carve out their own paths to regulating technologies like artificial intelligence. The EU, however, will continue to enjoy the most influence on global technology regulations.
EU climate and energy policy after the energy crunch
05 December 2023
After the energy crunch, EU member-states should roll back ‘unlimited’ energy subsidies, further co-ordinate their energy policy – for example, to expand power grids – and accelerate the implementation of climate policy.
Europe should boost the Bretton Woods institutions
01 December 2023
The EU should reinforce the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to stave off a destabilising financing crunch for many emerging and developing economies.
Ukraine fatigue: Bad for Kyiv, bad for the West
21 November 2023
Some Western leaders are expressing ‘Ukraine fatigue’ – a luxury Ukrainians do not have. But the cost to Europe of Ukraine failing would be higher than that of helping it to win.
Europe and the Gaza conflict
20 October 2023
Europe is divided on the Israel-Hamas conflict and has few good options to deal with it. But Europeans won’t be able to escape the conflict’s consequences.