European Union

Report

The lobbying ghost in the machine

This report identifies the lobby attempts of large United States tech corporations to influence the European Union’s regulation of artificial intelligence. It finds that 'big tech' has pushed all its levers to water down the regulation.
Case study

Mitigating global fragmentation in digital trade governance: a case study

Digital trade is growing rapidly, and regulators are trying to keep up. This paper looks at how five leading digital economies are using regional trade agreements to address regulatory concerns at the same time as enhancing trade.
Policy report

An assessment of Europe’s options for addressing the crisis in energy markets

Just like Australia, Europe’s energy markets are in crisis. Wholesale prices for electricity and gas have risen dramatically since early 2021. The authors of this paper examine the causes of the current very high wholesale prices, high producer rents and price volatility. They also outline...
Briefing paper

Influencing states' policy and practice on the protection of civilians

This briefing note explores the current practice of international humanitarian organisations in seeking to influence states on their policy and practice regarding the protection of civilians in armed conflict. It considers what factors are inhibiting and enabling these organisations’ influence on states, and sets out...
Report

Transforming food systems with farmers: a pathway for the EU

This report, developed in collaboration with Deloitte and NTT Data, takes the practical case of the European Union to understand the pathway required for a farmer-centric food systems transition.
Report

The digital Silk Road and China’s influence on standard setting

This paper finds that, for the most part, Chinese companies’ leading position in technologies and market share has not translated into more influence at main standard-setting organisations, although it is an important complement to China’s efforts in this regard.
Report

Convergence and divergence: multilateral trade and climate agendas

If the international community wants to make meaningful progress ahead of the 2030 deadline—which critics argue is still too late to avert global catastrophe—major global players should work together to reduce emissions at home and abroad. This paper discusses the politics of climate policy in...
Working paper

Engaging citizens in cohesion policy

From July 2020-December 2021, the European Commission and the OECD partnered to explore how five authorities across Europe could place citizens at the centre of their investment decisions. This report summarises lessons learned throughout this project and, particularly, the results of applying innovative citizen participation...
Policy report

The benefits of Brexit: how the UK is taking advantage of leaving the EU

This policy document sets out how the United Kingdom is capitalising on the benefits of 'Brexit' and how the government will use its new freedoms to transform the UK into the best regulated economy in the world.
Report

Informing the disinfo debate: a policy guide for protecting human rights

This report unpacks the main methods of manipulation that internet platforms engage in that harm fundamental rights and provides a set of policy recommendations addressed to lawmakers in the European Union.
Report

2021 Strategic foresight report: the EU’s capacity and freedom to act

This report presents a forward-looking and multidisciplinary perspective on important trends affecting the EU’s capacity and freedom to act in the coming decades, including: climate change and other environmental challenges, digital hyper-connectivity and technological transformations, pressure on democracy and values, as well as shifts in...
Policy report

The Competition and Markets Authority: a reboot for the 2020s

A majority of businesses do not know that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) enforces competition law in the United Kingdom. In the report, Andrew Tyrie, who chaired the watchdog from 2018 to 2020, makes a number of recommendations for reform of the competition watchdog...
Policy report

Blending the physical and virtual: a hybrid model for the future of work

The pandemic has shown that many workers can efficiently work remotely, with benefits for wellbeing and even productivity. This paper argues that the European Union should develop a framework to facilitate hybrid work.
Report

Taking back control of regulation: managing divergence from EU rules

The United Kingdom has regained its regulatory autonomy, but it remains unclear how the government plans to exercise it. This report explores how divergence from European Union rules could arise, why the government might want to act differently, the consequences this could have and how...
Briefing paper

Zero-carbon power is a key milestone on the route to net-zero

This briefing paper examines the latest energy scenarios informing United Kingdom and European Union policy-making, and compares these with the announced United States target for a zero-carbon electricity system by 2035.
Briefing paper

Brexit and UK climate leadership: the emerging opportunities and challenges

This report from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership examines the opportunities and challenges for climate leadership in the context of Brexit. 
Policy report

What’s ahead for a cooperative regulatory agenda on artificial intelligence?

The European Union has embarked on putting in place an aggressive regulatory regime for artificial intelligence (AI). In this report, Meredith Broadbent comments and reflects on the future of the transatlantic relationship and technological sovereignty.
Report

Managing the UK's relationship with the European Union

Now the United Kingdom has left the European Union (EU), the government needs to work out how it will organise itself to manage its relationship with its largest trading partner. This paper sets out the framework provided by the agreements with the EU, looks at...
Briefing paper

Beyond the Union: a new platform for European cooperation

This paper outlines one option for future cooperation on development and foreign policy issues between the European Union, the United Kingdom and the EFTA (European Free Trade Association) countries.
Policy report

The productivity paradox: policy lessons from MICROPROD

The objective of MICROPROD, an EU-wide research project that runs until the end of 2021, is to understand what is driving the current productivity slowdown and what the potential consequences are for Europe's economic model and its citizens’ welfare. This report summarises the main, policy-relevant...
Briefing paper

The agreement on the future relationship: a first analysis

After years of negotiations, the United Kingdom and the European Union have struck a deal on their future relationship. This deal is one of the most critical agreements the UK will negotiate in the post-Brexit era. This paper offers a first attempt at assessing the...
Report

Mapping career causeways: supporting workers at risk

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc with labour markets, and risks causing widespread worker displacement in the worst affected sectors. This disruption has thrown into sharp relief the lack of timely and detailed careers advice for workers. This report aims to fill that information gap...
Report

The cost of data inadequacy

This report outlines the economic cost and implications of the UK not receiving an adequacy decision from the EU. The authors look at the impact on businesses, different economic sectors, and the wider economy.
Report

Learning in a pandemic

Sixteen million people across Europe were unemployed in September 2020, a rise of about two million since the beginning of the pandemic. FutureFit is a major training and research project up-skilling over 1,000 workers at risk of job displacement. This report presents the findings from...
Report

The Digital Services Act, the Digital Markets Act, and the new competition tool

This paper reviews ongoing deliberations surrounding the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA). It also discusses possible implications of upcoming legislation for European innovation, the business models of U.S. companies serving European customers, and global digital services standards.