The EPICENTER Nanny State Index is the only comprehensive league table of lifestyle regulations. The latest data suggest that the EU is becoming a worse place to eat, drink, vape and smoke because of overregulation.
According to the latest IBL Super Index, the degree of internal divergence within Eurozone countries keeps increasing. This means that the gap between Eurozone periphery countries, such as – for example – Italy, and other comparable countries in the European Union is widening.
Following the latest European Commission proposal on wholesale roaming surcharges across the EEA, on 5 and 6 April, MEPs will debate on and vote for amending Regulation (EU) No 531/2012 as regards rules for wholesale roaming markets.
Current schooling systems are badly equipped to deal with rapid technological innovation and changing work patterns such as the sharing economy and the rise of portfolio careers. This is particularly true of southern European countries where centralisation has restricted educational freedom and has led to weaker student performance and persistently high rates of youth unemployment
The EEA Agreement was signed in 1992, and entered into force in 1994. Until now, EEA EFTA countries have been able to enjoy the benefits of the European Single Market whilst remaining outside of Brussels’ ever-closer-union agenda.
Since the introduction of pro-market reforms in 1978, China has emerged as a global economic powerhouse and it is today the EU’s second-largest trading partner.
Labour market mobility in the European Union is increasing, but it remains too low to provide sufficient internal socio-economic adjustments. This situation reflects non-policy factors, such as linguistic and cultural differences, but also policy barriers. In particular, difficulties in the recognition of skills and professional qualifications and occupational licensing are still major hurdles.
The composition of civil society at the EU level is largely dictated by which groups the European Commission chooses to fund. Furthermore, citizens have not been consulted directly on this. Instead they have been ventriloquised through a select group of charities, think tanks and other organisations which are directly financed by the EU.
Even though the free movement of capital has been a legislative reality in the European Union since the Treaty of Rome, the markets for most financial services and products remain largely divided.