The new European Commission must deliver for Europe’s future – but excessively emphasising ‘competitiveness’ could hinder this
Tackling Europe’s economic decline, preparing and adapting for a new wave of enlargement and defending Europe’s geopolitical position… the new European Commission will definitely need to deliver. The past five years have shown that it can prepare and react when it needs to, responding on the spot to multiple crises. But the path ahead will […]
How to ensure a skills-based future for European competitiveness
Competitiveness is a multifaceted concept and in today’s highly competitive global economy, skills are an essential component in how a country or region can become – and remain – competitive. This contribution focuses on bolstering strategies that aim to close the EU’s skills gap, with an emphasis on utilising skills intelligence, targeting adults, SMEs and […]
Turbocharging Europe’s innovative SMEs
Innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (ISMEs) are not scaled-down versions of large, listed companies. They differ fundamentally in their position in and contribution to the economy and society. It’s thus unlikely that the corporate legal structures, governance and management models for large companies are suitable for ISMEs. To improve the EU’s competitiveness, it’s essential to […]
How to achieve better EU laws
We are just entering a new EU five-year legislative mandate and with the new mandate comes new priorities. Recent blue-ribbon reports by Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi placed great emphasis on the need to reduce the EU’s regulatory burden to improve productivity and these were largely taken onboard in Commission President von der Leyen’s mission […]
Europe must act now to bridge regional divides and halt political extremism
Political discontent is rising in Europe and the EU is facing a complex challenge – improving competitiveness while simultaneously preventing the growth of regional inequalities. Unleashing competitiveness means taking concrete actions to give Europe the lead in complex technologies such as AI, to unleash innovation and entrepreneurship but also to correct a false narrative that […]
How the EU can – and should – enhance its security and global competitiveness
To achieve the objectives of security and competitiveness the EU will absolutely need to prioritise its enlargement policy, defence strategy and global partnerships over the coming years to 2030 and beyond. To make the EU fit for 30+ members, it will have to start by reforming its enlargement methodology towards a ‘staged accession’ procedure and […]
A critical first response to Mario Draghi’s competitiveness report
On 9 September 2024, Mario Draghi, the former Italian prime minister and former President of the European Central Bank, presented his long-awaited report on the EU economy and EU competitiveness. This is an immense report, 400 pages in total, containing a myriad of proposals to reform and rejuvenate a stagnant and sluggish EU economy, an […]
Staying ahead of the curve
A comprehensive review of the financial services landscape is necessary for the EU to address structural inefficiencies, ensure market dynamism and support long-term economic growth. The report emphasises that while Europe’s financial system has expanded in size and complexity, and there have been efforts to diversify and integrate financial markets, progress remains uneven, with fragmented […]
Why we need to rewire Europe’s financial sector – to end fragmentation and bolster integration
If Europe wants to stay ahead of the curve and be able to follow – and eventually lead – its international counterparts, the new European Commission should have a focused agenda that balances regulatory simplicity with forward-looking strategies. This is particularly the case in capital market integration, bank competitiveness, digital finance and sustainability. Over the […]
The EU according to Draghi – as competitive as needed, as sustainable as possible
Landing on Ursula von der Leyen’s desk just as she’s putting together the new College of Commissioners, the long-awaited report by Mario Draghi on ‘the future of European competitiveness’ totals almost 400 pages collaboratively drafted by two (invisible) teams in Brussels and Rome. Draghi‘s opus magnum doesn’t disappoint when it comes to length and ambition, […]
Mapping the use of artificial intelligence in priority sectors and the competitiveness of Ukraine
AI has emerged in recent years as a major driver of technological change across many sectors and its influence is only going to increase. In this context, as part of the green industrial recovery programme for Ukraine 2024-28 funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, CEPS collaborated with UNIDO (UN Industrial […]
What ‘North Star’ for future EU industrial policy?
Over the past three decades, EU institutions have gradually shifted towards greater reliance on goal-based strategies. This implies formulating an array of objectives and targets to achieve in the medium to long term, often encompassing economic and social dimensions and gradually incorporating environmental ones. This analysis first takes stock of the different long-term goals pursued […]