With the recovery beating expectations and market conditions easing, European firms expect to increase investment again. Financial support for firms during the lockdowns was crucial in keeping the economy afloat: more than half (56%) of EU firms have received some form of financial support in response to COVID-19. Moreover, despite difficult circumstances, four out of…
The Commission has adopted three new initiatives that are necessary for making the Green Deal a reality. The Commission is proposing new rules to curb EU-driven deforestation, as well as new rules to facilitate intra-EU waste shipments to promote circular economy and tackle the export of illegal waste and waste challenges to third countries. The…
An event organised by the EESC has investigated what measures other than gross domestic product (GDP) could help the EU recover successfully and build a sustainable and resilient economy. The European Union needs indicators that can complement GDP to address and assess 21st century global challenges such as climate change, poverty and resource depletion, while at…
A major pan-European polling round, the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) asked citizens of the EU’s 12 most important member states for their thoughts on German leadership within the EU-27, both retrospectively, with regards the Merkel-era, and how they see Germany’s representation in Europe changing beyond this week’s elections. The findings include: There is enduring support in Europe for Angela Merkel…
Commission head Ursula von der Leyen says the EU must “call out ” rights abuses. In her state of the union address, she said, “We are firm believers in the strength and value of cooperating in international bodies” “It is with a strong United Nations that we can find long-term solutions for crises like Libya…
Will the end of free EU roaming make the UK mobile market fairer? Don’t bet on it, writes Zach Meyers, of the Centre for European Reform. British consumers have become accustomed to using their mobile phones without incurring any additional charges while visiting the EU. Prominent Brexiters, such as British justice secretary Dominic Raab, promised that…
EU economy and finance ministers have welcomed the assessment of the Czech and Irish recovery and resilience plans. Council implementing decisions on the approval of the two plans will be adopted by written procedure shortly after today’s ministers’ video conference. The adoption of the decisions will allow these countries to start implementing reforms and investments outlined…
The Commission has published the results of a study analysing the economic impact of Open Source Software and Hardware on the European economy. It is estimated that companies located in the EU invested around €1 billion in Open Source Software in 2018, which brought about a positive impact on the European economy of between €65…
The European Commission has disbursed €24.9 billion to Italy in pre-financing, equivalent to 13% of the country’s grant and loan allocation for the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) under NextGenerationEU. Italy is one of the first countries receiving a pre-financing payment under the RRF. The pre-financing will help to kick-start the implementation of the crucial…
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved EUR 10.2 billion of new financing to support business investment and strengthen economic resilience to COVID-19, accelerate the green energy transition, expand sustainable transport and improve health, education, social housing and urban development. “The COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over, and economic consequences continue to be felt around…
