August 13, 2025
Sharing over a 600-kilometre-long border with Ukraine, Romania is at the heart of Europe’s evolving geopolitical tensions.
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August 8, 2025
After the collapse of the USSR, some countries experienced the best of times: economic freedom, low inflation, high growth, democratic institutions, and closer ties with the West. Others fell into the worst of times: runaway inflation, economic collapse, relapse into authoritarian regimes, and continued dependence on Moscow.
August 7, 2025
EPICENTER’s 2025 Nanny State Index, featured in MSN Norway, ranks European countries on tobacco, junk food, and alcohol regulations, each weighted at 33.3% for a score out of 100. It highlights varied approaches, with stricter laws sparking debate over personal freedom versus health benefits.
August 1, 2025
EPICENTER, featured in Prawo.Gazetaprawna, critiques the February 2025 excise tax hike on vaping devices (PLN 40/unit), nicotine pouches (PLN 150/kg, rising to PLN 250 by 2027), and e-cigarette liquids (PLN 40 penalty + PLN 0.96/ml), arguing it lacks a health campaign to justify the increase. Our research warns of a growing black market, citing KPMG’s report of a 4.3% shadow economy in 2024, and notes potential triple taxation risks, with industry experts estimating up to PLN 30 billion budget losses over a decade from proposed bans on disposables and flavored pouches.
August 1, 2025
EPICENTER, featured in a European Conservative article, critiques the EU’s plan to raise its budget to €2 trillion, including higher tobacco taxes and a new carbon tax, citing a study showing a €1 excise hike boosts the illegal cigarette market by 5-12%. The think tank opposes taxing alternatives like vaping, noting Sweden’s success with lower smoking rates.
July 31, 2025
The European Commission’s SME Relief Package is a response to the growing challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the EU, including excessive red tape, regulatory fragmentation, and weak cross-border scalability.
July 30, 2025
KEFIM, featured in Proto Thema, cites an EPICENTER study showing Greece’s tobacco black market at 25%, fourth highest in Europe, driven by tax hikes boosting illegal trade by 5-12% per euro. Factors include weak enforcement and proximity to low-price countries, not just affordability.
July 30, 2025
KEFIM, featured in Iefimerida, highlights an EPICENTER study showing Greece’s tobacco black market at 25%, fourth highest in Europe. The report links this to tax hikes boosting illegal trade by 5-12% per euro, citing weak enforcement and border issues beyond just price.
July 29, 2025
EPICENTER, featured in Economie Matin, criticizes the EU’s plan to raise tobacco taxes and introduce TEDOR (€11.2 billion/year), arguing it boosts the illegal market by 5-12% per €1 excise hike. The think tank opposes taxing safer alternatives like vaping, citing Sweden’s lower smoking rates, while slamming the €2 trillion budget expansion.
