Euro & Finance
Why EU needs a stronger commitment from Member States to build efficient capital markets
The European Commission expressed commitment to stronger and more deeply integrated financial markets with its action plan on capital markets union (CMU) published one year ago. This objective cannot be achieved without a strong commitment from the EU Member States, even more crucial now, as Europe recovers from the COVID-19 crisis.
Fiscal reform and why it matters for climate
The EU's economic governance must drive climate action for a just transition, not austerity, writes Isabelle Brachet.Promoted content
Long-term financing and prudential rules: a dilemma that isn’t one
Over the last five years, banks and insurers have invested around €65 billion into private equity. That represents 15% of the overall investment in that asset class, which was then committed by these funds into companies of all sizes, from small start-ups to large established businesses.
The EU taxonomy can strengthen SMEs in the green transition
Small and medium-sized companies stay exempt from the new disclosure rules on the EU’s sustainable finance taxonomy starting in 2022. However corporate leaders would be well-advised to follow its implications, including SMEs, writes Finn Wendland.
Banking and fintech: not a zero sum game
By working together, and with policymakers, banks and fintech businesses can speed up the EU's economic recovery, writes Ellen Moeller
The Brief, powered by EPRA — The politics of the pact
The EU’s fiscal rule book was an early victim of the COVID pandemic, correctly, pushed aside by the need to keep businesses afloat as lockdowns derailed economies. But it has not been forgotten.
The new crusade for fiscal prudence
The frugal alliance stands to gain very little if their campaign for premature fiscal consolidation following the pandemic succeeds, but they risk exposing the entire EU to serious political and economic consequences, writes Anna Peychev.Promoted content
Private Equity is private & Public Markets are public… and never the twain shall meet?
For some time a misplaced false dichotomy has been going around as part of the narrative of the ecosystem in capital markets. According to this, private equity fund managers should be in opposition to the well-functioning of the public markets....
Revamping fiscal rules requires a new understanding on debt sustainability
It is necessary to reform the European Union’s flawed macroeconomic architecture as the post-pandemic world demands a new fiscal rulebook to boost our economies, argues Margarida Marques.Promoted content
How private equity creates jobs and a brighter future
Private equity is an essential part of the solid foundation on which the European economy is built and its society flourishes. It is an engine for growth, and that growth is an engine for job creation. From food and clothing...
A fairer playing field for businesses and consumers
The EU's new VAT regime will create rules fit for the digital age and benefit businesses and consumers, writes Gerassimos Thomas.Special ReportPromoted content
Thinking about investing in Portugal? Think again.
In 2017, a coalition of institutional investors, including Pimco and Blackrock, boycotted an issuance of Portuguese bonds to protest the risks associated with actively investing in Portuguese public or private debt “as the Banco de Portugal still has not addressed...
The Brief, powered by UNESDA – Europe’s debt disciple raises the alarm
“Borrowing in times of crisis to stabilise the economy makes sense, as long as the question of repayment is not forgotten.” So says Bundestag president and former German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble, a welcome, if unlikely, convert to Keynesian economics.Promoted content
Private equity industry ready to finance recovery
Europe’s private equity industry stands ready to finance the recovery and contribute toward climate neutrality and digital leadership. Eric de Montgolfier is the CEO of Invest Europe. How has your industry been coping with this health and economic crisis? With...
The real reason we need a digital euro
The ECB will decide this summer whether to continue its plans for digitalizing the euro. With bankers pushing back, the major advantage of a digital euro has gained little attention, writes Igor Pejic.Promoted content
A joint effort to boost the European recovery
In 2021, Generali celebrates its 190th anniversary. It is not only a significant milestone that few companies can boast, but also an opportunity to honour our history by continuing to play an ever-increasing active corporate citizenship role that goes beyond...
Where is social inclusion in the national recovery plans?
The Recovery Funds should respond to the strategic priorities set out by the European Commission, including employment and fighting poverty. However, an initial assessment of the submitted draft national recovery plans suggests that they largely miss investment in social inclusion and social services reform, writes Alfonso Lara Montero.
The ECB needs political guidance on secondary objectives
While EU Treaties clearly stipulate that the European Central Bank “shall support the general objectives of the European Union", politicians cannot simply stand by, hoping that it will use its discretionary power to act on them, writes Grégory Claeys.
No need to panic about the EU recovery fund
The EU recovery fund has been delayed by another court case in Germany. But there's no need to worry, writes Sony Kapoor.
Don’t impose new tax reporting burden on EU businesses
The competitiveness of European businesses is at risk if EU introduces unilateral public country-by-country reporting, writes Krister Andersson.
From financial solidarity to a social and federal union
The creation of a federal bond will pave the way for a treasury and common EU taxation. However, this ad-hoc financial union agreed by the European Council is mostly an intergovernmental affair and a stronger role of the European Parliament...
The Coronavirus exposes the Netherlands as a tax haven – again
Governments miss out on billions of tax revenues annually as the result of tax havens such as The Netherlands. The Coronavirus pandemic tellingly shows how such tax havens undermine public policy and cohesion within the EU, argues Boris Kowalski.
Cancel the public debt held by the ECB and ‘take back control’ of our destiny
It is time for the European Central Bank to cancel a large of the public debt it holds, say more than a hundred economists from across Europe including Aurore Lalucq, Nicolas Dufrêne, Jézabel Couppey-Soubeyran, and Laurence Scialom.Promoted content
