Economy

07-10-2024

The EU should rethink work beyond competitiveness

Est. 5min

In 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.

03-10-2024

EU member states should endorse tariffs on Chinese EVs or risk undermining European interests and agency

Est. 6min

EU 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.

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25-09-2024

Fuelling Europe’s future: How venture capital drives innovation and growth

Est. 5min

With billions invested in start-ups that tackle climate change and drive digital advances, Europe's VC industry is not just keeping pace—it's powering the EU's ambitions and setting the stage for a brighter future.

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18-09-2024

Industry´s vision for a competitive Europe

Est. 4min

To reboot Europe as an attractive location for industry, the EU needs to draw up a bold master plan to strengthen Europe's competitiveness. The motto should certainly be “less regulation, more freedom for companies”.

12-09-2024

Europe needs to move beyond US elections’ abyss

Est. 5min

Presidential elections in the United States (US) always bring uncertainties and surprises, and this one is no exception. From Trump’s judicial cases to his attack, as well as the sudden shift from Joe Biden's Democratic candidacy to Kamala Harris, the whole world is watching – and rightly so.

28-08-2024

Advancing climate neutrality while strengthening competitiveness – with a just and ambitious Clean Industrial Deal

Est. 5min

The new EU Commission should build on the European Green Deal to strengthen Europe’s economic competitiveness and geopolitical relevance. A Clean Industrial Deal could serve both ends if designed correctly.

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26-08-2024

Why financial literacy must be built into the EU’s policy agenda

Est. 7min

Money management is an essential part of modern life and yet half of EU adults lack basic financial knowledge. With the capital markets union back on the political agenda and the digitalisation of finance, now is the time for an urgent rethink of the financial literacy agenda – one that is holistic and earnestly pursues tangible measures and outcomes.

05-08-2024

Why China’s interest in producing cars in Europe underscores need for investment rules

Est. 6min

Tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EV) will likely boost investments in new European factories, which is good news but could also undermine Europe’s industrial base, to address this challenge the EU needs to strengthen and unify its investment rules, writes Tobias Gehrke.

02-08-2024

The ECB is failing on its duty to support Europe’s economic and green transition goals

Est. 5min

Ursula von der Leyen is facing an unfortunate and unnecessary challenge to her plans to increase investment as part of her second term as European Commission President. The political guidelines for her second term set out to “turbo charge investment”, promising to “unlock the financing needed for the green, digital and social transition.”

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31-07-2024

The Future of Spirits: A Toast to Balancing Growth and Responsibility

Est. 4min

From the aqua vitae of mediaeval Europe to the baijiu of ancient China, distilled alcohol has an incredible global heritage, and today each sip of spirit tells the tale of its birthplace.

10-07-2024

Europe’s economy is falling behind: a new Commissioner can help it catch up

Est. 5min

EU leaders are sounding the alarm on Europe’s industry and innovation falling behind the US and others. Europe’s economic muscles have atrophied while the United States and China are pushing the world into the next generation of innovation and industry. Deep changes are required.

09-07-2024

The Brief – German government tricks itself out of a budget crisis, again

Est. 8min

Once again, the German government has used accounting tricks to reconcile its spending wishes with the rules of its constitutional ‘debt brake’ – but unlike the tricks faulted by the country’s Constitutional Court last year, this time experts say it's waterproof.

Competition 21-06-2024

The Brief – Who cares about competitiveness?

Est. 7min

Sometime next month, former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi—“the guy who saved the euro”—will publish his much-anticipated report on the competitiveness of the European economy.

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18-06-2024

ACCA EU 2024-2029: Three calls to action for a sustainable and competitive Future for Europe

Est. 6min

Drawing on our unique global membership, we at ACCA call on newly elected Members of the European Parliament to champion sustainability, ethical AI, and talent development. These priorities are crucial for shaping a sustainable, competitive, and future-ready Europe.

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07-06-2024

EU biodiesel industry may not survive 2024 if left unprotected from Chinese unfair imports

Est. 5min

As a frontrunner in climate ambitions, the EU cannot allow the demand for biodiesel to be met by unfair and possibly fraudulent imports from China. Immediate registration of imports is critical, before it is too late.

07-06-2024

Impact of EU sanctions on aluminum would be disastrous for Europe’s industry

Est. 5min

A new set of sanctions against Russia is being considered - the 14th round of sanctions since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in early 2022. There are no good ideas for new economic measures against the Kremlin, but this does not justify the pursuit of bad ideas, writes Naike Gruppioni.

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03-06-2024

Celebrating a Milestone for Inventors – One Year of the Unitary Patent

Est. 7min

One year since the landmark launch of the Unitary Patent, António Campinos, President of the European Patent Office, evaluates its progress in broadening access into the European patent system for underrepresented inventors and supporting technological development.

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28-05-2024

The ongoing quest for Social Europe

Est. 11min

The new impetus for Social Europe of the past five years has led to important and long-awaited policy initiatives, including on minimum wages, platform work and corporate due diligence. However, progress in this field remains both fragile and fragmented. The key question now is whether this social paradigm shift can be upheld in the face of the high risk of an austerity reload and in a context of continued “polycrises”.

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28-05-2024

Ten reasons to Use Your Vote in the European elections

Est. 9min

10 reasons to Use Your Vote: Eurofound Executive Director Ivailo Kalfin looks at EU social successes and key challenges for the future.

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24-05-2024

Leveraging listed real estate: A cornerstone for Europe’s Capital Markets Union

Est. 6min

Listed real estate has a pivotal role to play in the context of the long-awaited completion of the Capital Markets Union (CMU). This asset class not only aligns with CMU objectives but can serve as a catalyst for further unlocking the potential of Europe’s capital markets.

15-05-2024

The Brief – Merz in the driving seat in von der Leyen’s campaign

Est. 5min

In her first term as Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen was largely free to push through her agenda without having to worry about backlash from her party. If she gets a second mandate, however, this is bound to change, with her conservative CDU party taking a much more prominent role.

14-05-2024

EU’s promising critical raw materials plans risk being undermined by lack of commitment 

Est. 6min

While the high-road approach of the CRMA factors in the social and environmental conditions in which raw materials are extracted and processed, for this strategy to be viable, the EU must follow through and secure meaningful trade agreements with partner-countries that embed these considerations

10-05-2024

A competitive and resilient Europe requires transitioning from sectoral to systemic thinking

Est. 6min

Research and innovation policy in Europe and elsewhere has for decades been increasingly designed with the singular purpose of enhancing the bettering valorisation of research investment, and the route to this goal has generally been assumed to be through industrial development

09-05-2024

The future of Europe’s research and innovation programmes on the cusp of a new era

Est. 6min

The EU's current programme, Horizon Europe – one of the strongest and largest research and Innovation frameworks in the world – will end in 2027. The ground is now being set for its successor, one that needs to match the caliber of Europe’s knowledge base with the creativity and precision needed to drive the bloc's competitiveness for the next decade.