EMU
Ex-Eurogroup boss: Nobody is so stupid to propose to ‘just go back under 3% deficit’
As one of the most influential Eurogroup figures during the previous crisis, Thomas Wieser chaired the preparatory meetings of eurozone finance ministers between 2011 and 2018. In an interview with EURACTIV, the American-Austrian economist described the EU’s fiscal rules as “bad practical economics”, in particular for handling a crisis such as the current one.
Centeno: ‘I do see good reasons to support green investment under the fiscal rules’
Speaking to EURACTIV in Davos, Eurogroup President Mario Centeno remained hopeful about the eurozone's stalled reform process, saying there are “good reasons” to support ‘green’ investment as part of a broader review of EU fiscal rules due later this year.
König: I don’t believe in gender quotas
For many, the banking union represents the most ambitious step in EU integration since the creation of the euro. As the chairwoman of the new authority to resolve European systemic banks, Elke König, has been in the driving seat of the process.
Austrian chief economist: ‘A lot can still be done to complete the euro zone’
The Austrian national bank (OeNB) hosted its annual conference on 20 years of the euro on 2 and 3 May. In an interview with EURACTIV, the bank's chief economist explains how the euro zone debt crisis changed the economic "tool box" of the EU currency and spells out the challenges ahead.
OECD’s Gurría: ‘People are angry and frustrated’
OECD Secretary-General Ángel Gurría has blamed governments for the rise of populism and political fragmentation across Europe, claiming they also did not deliver benefits that were promised to citizens, he told EURACTIV in an interview.
MEP Rodrigues: Imposing eurozone ‘as it is’ on Italy is not the answer
Populist forces in Italy are “playing with fire” and exposing the country to market pressure, vice-president of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament Maria João Rodrigues warned in an interview.
Moscovici: ‘The credibility of the EU tax haven black list is at stake’
The EU Commissioner for Economic Affairs Pierre Moscovici is determined to table a digital tax proposal at EU level, despite warnings from the OECD. In an exclusive interview with EURACTIV, he also warns EU countries for failing to publish the commitments made by tax havens to exit the EU’s ‘black list’.
Dastis: ‘Not all our bold ideas for eurozone reform will be fulfilled’
Spain's Foreign Affairs Minister Alfonso Dastis had to deal with a diplomatic crisis with Venezuela in the midst of an exclusive interview with EURACTIV in the margin of the World Economic Forum, where he said that concrete steps forward in the eurozone should be made by June.
PwC boss: Businesses ‘sceptical’ about Merkel-Macron EU reform push
Europe will be high on the agenda of the World Economic Forum on Wednesday (24 January), as French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel take the stage in Davos. But there is “a lot of scepticism” about what the two leaders can do to push forward EU integration, PwC’s chief Bob Moritz told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.
Membership in eurozone unlikely for Denmark, Sweden-adviser
The cooperation forum of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden is "in search of new relevance", Christian Opitz and Tobias Etzold explained in a recent analysis paper by the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP). EURACTIV Germany spoke with Tobias Etzold.
Tomáš Zdechovský: The EU begins in the stomach of a Czech citizen
The Czechs do not know anything about the EU’s global strategies or the interconnection of energy networks. But they know very well that they can buy cheaper and better food in Germany, says MEP Tomáš Zdechovský (EPP).
Transparency International: German criticism of ECB ‘a tad dishonest’
As Germany prepares for general elections in September, Leo Hoffmann-Axthelm reminds about Berlin’s responsibility in the politicisation of the European Central Bank (ECB), saying it is largely due to German inaction during the Eurozone crisis.
European fiscal board chief: ‘Stop talking about recovery, we are approaching normality’
Arguably, the EU’s economic governance framework is one of the most divisive issues among member states and top priority in Europe’s to-do list of outstanding reforms. Niels Thygesen does not shy away from this challenge. After questioning European Commission fiscal stance for this year recommendation, he proposed a return to a more ‘prudent’ orientation for 2018. In October, he will address one of the hottest topics: whether the application of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) unfairly favoured countries like France.
Macron: Germany is competitive thanks to eurozone weaknesses
Ahead of Thursday’s (13 July) Franco-German Ministerial Council, Friday’s Bastille Day celebrations and Donald Trump’s visit to Paris, President Emmanuel Macron spoke to EURACTIV’s partner Ouest-France about Europe's future, and France’s relations with the US.
Moscovici: Italy, Portugal, Spain fiscal progress ‘good news’
Portugal, Italy and Spain became yesterday (22 May) illustrative examples of the new period Europe enjoys. The executive congratulated Lisbon and Madrid for turning their economies upside down, just one year after they became the first countries that breached the fiscal rules, while it gave its blessing to Rome’s adjustments, one of the eurozone’s troublemakers.
French economist: ‘German trade surplus responsible for eurozone inequity’
The economic imbalances of the eurozone are undermining citizens’ confidence in the European project. Cutting Germany’s trade surplus could help redress the balance, Jérôme Creel said in an interview with EURACTIV France.
EU’s Dombrovskis: Trump brings ‘concern’ to international financial regulation
European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis is wary of US moves to deregulate the banking sector, saying the main lesson from the 2008 financial crisis is that international finance needs international rules. But he was positive about Greece’s fiscal adjustment and called on Athens and its lenders to give a “final push” to break the stalemate on the country's bailout programme.
Moscovici: ‘Trump will bring more nationalism and protectionism’
Commissioner for Economic Affairs Pierre Moscovici agrees with the 'wait and see' approach toward new US President Donald Trump mostly shared by the global elite in the in Davos. But he sees more nationalism and protectionism coming from the White House.
Moscovici: Progress on deficit reduction must not be reversed
Pierre Moscovici spoke to EURACTIV's partner Ouest-France about France's left-wing primary, the impact of Donald Trump's election, the 3% deficit rule, the Commission's March white paper and the importance of the euro.
European Fiscal Board chief: Commission’s analysis ‘made a bit too quickly’
The new European Fiscal Board began working just as the European Commission took the unprecedented step of proposing a fiscal target for the eurozone. The Board’s chief, Niels Thygesen told EURACTIV.com that the Commission should have done “more analysis” before proposing an expansionist stance.
Academic: ‘Clear evidence that cohesion policy has a significant impact’
The EU’s cohesion policy, which aims at closing the development gap between rich and poor regions, has succeeded in boosting local growth although many people aren't aware of it, professor John Bachtler said in an interview with EURACTIV Greece.
Jean Tirole: ‘I hope Europe and the UK can prevent Brexit’
Brexit triumphed through demagogy and populism, according to the economist Jean Tirole, who calls for a U-turn to prevent Europe falling to the forces of separatism.
Sir Julian King: ‘We now support the evolution of the eurozone, without trying to hold it back’
The man tipped to become Britain's next EU Commissioner in Brussels, replacing Johnathan Hill, spoke to EURACTIV.fr in an exclusive interview before the UK's referendum on EU membership. This is a translated version of the interview, originally given in French.