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EPICENTER

July 10, 2025
Published by EPICENTER on July 10, 2025
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EU TOBACCO TAX HIKE FUELS BLACK MARKET, SAYS INESS IN EURACTIV

INESS, featured in Euractiv, warns that EU efforts to curb smoking with higher tobacco taxes are driving a record illegal trade in 2024, as smokers turn to cheaper illicit options. Their analysis, alongside KPMG, notes Slovakia’s rise from 25th to 17th in the 2024 Nanny State Index due to new taxes on sweetened drinks, vaping, and tobacco, with little impact on quitting rates.
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July 9, 2025
Published by EPICENTER on July 9, 2025
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Europe’s TechReg Paradox: Deregulating with One Hand, Re-regulating with the Other

Europe’s ambition to lead in emerging technologies is being held back by a fragmented and risk-averse regulatory culture. Despite repeated promises to reduce red tape, EU institutions continue to introduce overlapping digital laws that place a heavy compliance burden on startups, reinforce incumbent advantages, and discourage innovation.
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July 2, 2025
Published by EPICENTER on July 2, 2025
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IBL PRESENT THE 2025 NANNY STATE INDEX’S FINDINGS IN ITALIA INFORMA

The Bruno Leoni Institute (IBL), in a new editorial, criticizes Italy’s postponed sugar and plastic taxes as harmful with doubtful benefits, impacting Made in Italy sectors with negligible revenue. IBL’s Alberto Mingardi argues the sugar tax unfairly burdens families (drinks are just 0.9% of daily calories) and Europe’s uniform cigarette tax ignores Sweden’s successful alternative approach, achieving a smoke-free 2025. The IBL, with Epicenter, relaunches the Nanny State Index, advocating education over taxation.
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July 2, 2025
Published by EPICENTER on July 2, 2025
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KEFIM PUSHES TAX INCENTIVES FOR TOBACCO ALTERNATIVES IN IEFIMERIDA

KEFIM, featured in Iefimerida, proposes a tax framework with lower rates for alternative tobacco products like e-cigarettes, which have 80-90% fewer harmful substances than cigarettes. Panagiotis Liargovas and Nikos Rompapas argue this could reduce smoking-related deaths, citing WHO’s 8 million annual figure, and encourage safer habits.
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July 1, 2025
Published by EPICENTER on July 1, 2025
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EPICENTER’s NANNY STATE INDEX 2025 FEATURED IN PORADNIK ZDROWIE

EPICENTER’s 2025 Nanny State Index, featured in Poradnik Zdrowie, ranks Poland 8th out of 29 countries for strict lifestyle regulations, up from 15th in 2016. Key factors include the 2024 energy drink ban for minors and high sugar taxes, with Gabriel Hawryluk of the Civic Development Forum noting limited health benefits despite restrictions.
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June 26, 2025
Published by EPICENTER on June 26, 2025
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CÉCILE PHILIPPE FROM IEM CRITIQUES FRENCH PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH IN LES ECHOS

Cécile Philippe of the Institut Economique Molinari, featured in Les Echos, argues that the rise in French work stoppages is misunderstood, not a sign of laziness. She critiques the overreliance on taxes and bans in public health policy, including sickness benefits.
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June 25, 2025
Published by EPICENTER on June 25, 2025
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Rethinking the DMA: Innovation, Competition, and the Risks of Overregulation

Effective regulation should serve as a catalyst – not a constraint – for innovation and long-term competitiveness. In digital markets, where business models evolve rapidly, fixed regulatory benchmarks – such as market share or price levels – can unintentionally stifle the dynamism that drives progress. The European Union’s (EU’s) Digital Markets Act (DMA), though ambitious in its objective of curbing the dominance of Big Tech gatekeepers, risks locking digital markets into rigid structures by imposing one-size-fits-all obligations that are ill-suited to the iterative and experimental nature of innovation.
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June 24, 2025
Published by EPICENTER on June 24, 2025
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IME’S LATCHEZAR BOGDANOV DISCUSSES EUROPEAN COMPETITIVENESS ON NOVATV

Lachezar Bogdanov of the Institute for Market Economics, featured on NovaTV, notes Bulgaria’s prices are 60% of the EU average, with food costs like milk and dairy rising 9% faster due to income growth and imports. Convergence slowed to 0.5% in 2024.
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June 23, 2025
Published by EPICENTER on June 23, 2025
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INESS FEATURED IN HNTELEVISION ON SALES TAX HIKE’S CONSEQUENCES

Radovan Ďurana of INESS, featured on HNtelevision, critiques Slovakia’s 14 holidays, suggesting a reduction to boost tax revenue and cut the deficit, citing France’s 11 and Germany’s 9. He also questions the transaction tax and second pillar reopening, calling excessive holidays a social luxury.
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EPICENTER publications and contributions from our member think tanks are designed to promote the discussion of economic issues and the role of markets in solving economic and social problems. As with all EPICENTER publications, the views expressed here are those of the author and not EPICENTER or its member think tanks (which have no corporate view).

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EPICENTER publications and contributions from our member think tanks are designed to promote the discussion of economic issues and the role of markets in solving economic and social problems. As with all EPICENTER publications, the views expressed here are those of the author and not EPICENTER or its member think tanks (which have no corporate view).

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