Economics & Trade

By Pier Domenico Tortola The European Central Bank “needs a rocket scientist, not a rock star”, quipped the website Politico shortly after the nomination of Christine Lagarde to succeed Mario Draghi at the helm of the ECB, starting November 2019. The risk, the commentary continued, is that the presidency of Lagarde, a central banking outsider […]

On 30 October 2019, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) published its Work Programme for the year 2020, listing all the upcoming priorities, main challenges and key concerns for the EU’s finances. The 2020 Work Programme covers a wide range of areas and related problems the EU is currently facing, among them: the sustainable use of natural resources, migration, […]

Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, the euro area slowdown was the result of EMU-induced domestic deflation. EU3D researcher Simona Piattoni offers a different reading of Italy’s disappointing economic performance.  Since 2011, Italy has been considered the single largest threat to the stability of the euro. Italy’s high and growing debt (€2300 bn, some 135% of […]

By Chiara Russo A look to the (not so far) future While the UK has reported the highest number of deaths due Covid-19, countries like Italy are entering into “phase 2”, relaxing strict measures a little and allowing people, not only to meet their nearest relatives and friends, but to take their beloved espresso directly at a café. However, […]

Because of Brexit, Britain is rapidly propelling away from Europe, involving the loss of free trade, and free movement of people, with our neighbouring countries. Is that really what Britain wants? The UK government seems determined to close all possibilities of a successful new relationship with our closest countries on our continent. Instead, we’re moving away from […]

Since the euro crisis, the European Central Bank (ECB) has expanded its powers from monetary policy to banking supervision in the Eurozone. In the framework of the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM), established in 2013, the ECB became responsible for the direct supervision of the largest banks of Eurozone countries.

In a celebratory Tweet, Home Secretary Priti Patel has announced the end of ‘free movement’. She wrote: ‘We’re ending free movement to open Britain up to the world. It will ensure people can come to our country based on what they have to offer, not where they come from.’ Her Tweet is an insult to […]

‘Visit Europe from 1 January 2021’ is the title of the UK government website which ironically tells you how much more difficult visiting ‘Europe’ will be from next year. Yes, we’re getting our country back (really?) but instead, we’re losing our continent, or at least, easy access to it. Among some of the key points for […]

A no-deal Brexit now looks almost certain, with the latest round of talks between the UK and the EU ending in stalemate, and the negotiations by all accounts turning acrimonious. It’s almost as if the British government wants a no-deal, even though the non-binding ‘political statement’ of the Withdrawal Agreement, approved by the UK Parliament, […]

What are the features of ESM Pandemic Crisis Support? On 23rd April 2020, EU leaders endorsed the Eurogroup agreement of 9 April 2020, which established three safety nets for workers, businesses and Member States, amounting to a package worth 540 billion Euros. Besides the three safety nets, this Eurogroup Report also agreed to establish the “Pandemic Crisis Support”. […]