Economy

One Competitiveness Fund to rule them all – the Commission’s considered R&I overhaul
Est. 4min"It is a mega maxi bazooka program," Director of Research at the CEPS Andrea Renda told Euractiv.

EU’s €35 billion loan for Ukraine likely deadlocked until US elections
Est. 4minThe prolongation of the sanctions rollover period is a key factor in determining several Western countries’ participation in a $50 billion G7 loan package for Ukraine.

Recommitting to European Standards is key for a strong Single Market
Est. 6minVery often, European standards go unnoticed. And yet, they are an essential tool that makes sure that may of the things in our daily lives function efficiently, everywhere in Europe. Among them, the Single Market.

EU Parliament to question Fitto on cohesion policy overhaul and conditionality
Est. 5minA document obtained by Euractiv reveals that MEPs are concerned that the objectives of cohesion policy "may be compromised" by possible RRF-style reforms

The EU should rethink work beyond competitiveness
Est. 5minIn both the Draghi report and von der Leyen's mission letter to Roxana Mînzatu there is a strong focus on promoting productivity, competitiveness and, ultimately, economic growth - the “holy grail” of every economy. But if this is really our only understanding of what work is and the purpose it should serve, then we have taken a complete and utter wrong turn somewhere.

New European Commission needs to walk the talk on cohesion policy, regions’ committee boss says
Est. 4minCohesion policy could "maybe" learn from the EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), but only if regional governments keep their say, Vasco Alves Cordeiro told Euractiv ahead of the EU "Regions Week".

EVs, state aid, mergers: MEPs ask Ribera to clarify views on controversial issues
Est. 5minRibera recently claimed that the Spanish prime minister's call for the Commission to “reconsider” its position on EV tariffs “is compatible with the policies that Brussels is promoting”.

MEPs to quiz Dombrovskis about ‘huge demand’ for EU public investment
Est. 3minSome argue that the “revised economic governance framework” will hamper the EU's efforts to make critical investments and remain globally competitive.

Analysts: Germany’s ‘selfish’ EV vote aims to channel Chinese retaliation onto France or Spain
Est. 4min“Maybe Germany's political signal here means that [it would prefer China] to go after Spanish pork and French brandy, not German cars."

Germany’s Scholz last-minute orders on EV tariffs vote reflect new and old rifts in EU trade saga
Est. 13minWhat this morning's vote means is that while the lack of a qualifying blocking majority allowed the European Commission to declare that it had “obtained the necessary support” from EU countries, the backdrop for supporting the tariffs is deeply blurred and far from set in stone.

Member states fail to block Commission duties on Chinese EVs
Est. 3minTen EU countries voted in favour of the duties, with five voting against and 12 member states abstaining.

EU member states set to confirm EV tariffs, resisting German, Chinese lobbying
Est. 6minGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz reportedly bowed to Chinese pressure, shifting from abstention to rejection.

Italy’s largest lobby group to push for EU policy U-turn on CO2 emission trading system
Est. 5minExperts warn that recent and hefty investments risk becoming almost worthless because stringent ETS rules will swallow all the profits.

Letta says his European rail vision hinges on completion of Capital Markets Union
Est. 3min"Without mobilising private investments, it will be impossible to convince all the 27 (EU countries) to put public money in a common box,” Letta said.

Barnier promises unprecedented €60 billion budget measure for 2025
Est. 3minFrance's new prime minister wasted no time in presenting an unprecedented plan to make drastic budget cuts.

‘It is already too late’: Macron urges reform of EU growth model
Est. 6minEmmanuel Macron rang the alarm bell in Berlin on Wednesday (2 October), warning that EU member states’ thinking must change urgently so the bloc can face US and China competition. “If we continue with our [old] growth model, we’re out in three-four years”.

EU member states should endorse tariffs on Chinese EVs or risk undermining European interests and agency
Est. 6minEU member states should vote in favour of imposing definitive trade tariffs on China-made electric vehicles on Friday (4 October), as China will never take seriously a Europe that can be divided and conquered by waving a stick at fearful member states.

Letta: Europe is a ‘financial colony’ of the US
Est. 5minThe Italian technocrat also warned that member states’ refusal to relinquish control of their domestic banking sectors risks exacerbating Europe’s financial subservience vis-à-vis the US.

Italian lawmakers to question car giant Stellantis
Est. 4minThe long-simmering crisis at the world's fourth-largest carmaker has now reached a critical point, with lawmakers from the opposition and ruling parties set to question CEO Carlos Tavares on 11 October.

Barnier sets out key policy priorities for France – hoping Brussels would hear
Est. 6minMichel Barnier set out a series of policy priorities spanning spending cuts, immigration, health and more in a wide-ranging speech on Tuesday (1 October), with nudges and nods to Brussels that France was back under control.

Sustainability advocates, unions pin hopes on reform of EU public procurement rules
Est. 6minThe European Commision's recently announced plans to revise EU public procurement rules should ensure social and environmental criteria that are actually entrenched into law, trade unions and sustainability advocates said.

Hungarian government amends law to reach agreement with the European Commission on Erasmus ban
Est. 5minThe Hungarian government is set to amend legislation governing public interest asset management foundations (kekva) in an effort to resolve disputes with the European Commission regarding Hungary’s university model change.

Euro zone inflation dips below 2%, strengthening rate cut case
Est. 3minEuro zone inflation dipped below 2% for the first time since mid-2021 in September, reinforcing an already solid case for a European Central Bank rate cut this month as a three-year battle to tame runaway price growth nears its end.

Berlin’s clean industry wish-list: Kick nuclear out of EU financing
Est. 3minLaying out key priorities for the EU's upcoming Clean Industrial Deal, German Economy State Secretary Sven Giegold on Monday (30 September) wants the Commission to prioritise renewable energy, taking a tough line on nuclear power and France’s targets.