Policy Briefs

In the field of monetary policy, the discussion of rules versus flexibility has already played a big role in European politics. In an upcoming “policy review,” this discussion may be highly relevant with regard to the inclusion or exclusion of monetary policy approaches and thus the degree of policy effectiveness. Against this background, this policy brief discusses the question “rules versus flexibility” with regard to some basic problems of monetary policy.

The European Commission has announced to step up carbon emission reduction targets for 2030 and 2050. The new European Commission released plans for a European Green Deal and announced to propose a BCA mechanism for the EU. Implementation of an EU BCA, is not only politically contentious, but also rather complex from a legal perspective. This policy brief therefore focuses on issues of implementation.

Vor dem Hintergrund des 25-Jahre-Jubiläums des EU-Beitritts Österreichs analysiert Fritz Breuss im vorliegenden Policy Briefs die makroökonomische Entwicklung Österreichs, geht der Frage nach, ob die Vorteile die Nachteile einer EU–Mitgliedschaft überwiegen und wagt einen Blick in die Zukunft.

Relations between the Emerald Isle with its symbol the shamrock, and the rose the heraldic emblem of England, have been historically fraught. Brexit has unleashed unwanted attention reviving old wounds. Whatever the outcome of the UK election and irrespective of whether the country leaves the EU next year, there is a shared responsibility to foster the fragile peace process that has so painstakingly been built up since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

The Policy Brief argues that the Brexit was a first instance of dis-integration of the European Union. It has great importance not only for Britain but also for the European Union itself. It is shown that the main reason for the negative outcome of the referendum about the UK remaining in the EU was that British citizens did not want to remain a member of an EU aspiring to develop toward fully integrated United States of Europe.