Despite the world falling apart around it, the Brussels bubble will largely continue as before.

“Brussels as usual”: www.euractiv.com/section/econ...

EV shock

Europäisches Haus Berlin

Bundespresseball

Europäisches Parlament

My time at @euractiv.com has come to an end. For my last piece, I allowed myself to look at the inner workings of the #Brussels bubble and why it will probably never change. See first comment.

Thanks to all my amazing (ex-)colleagues for two and a half fantastic years! It was a blast!

Commission’s new omnibus slashes green reporting to catch up with US The new package of legislative proposals hopes to give European companies a competitive edge.

Commission’s new omnibus slashes green reporting to catch up with US

Germany must act immediately to stop deindustrialisation, union urges "We can still stop the job losses that have been taking place in energy-intensive industries for three years," IG Metall deputy chief Jürgen Kerner said.

Germany must act immediately to stop deindustrialisation, union urges

Germany’s CDU joins race to subsidise electricity prices Many economists have criticised the idea of subsidising electricity prices, arguing that efforts should instead focus on increasing electricity supply, such as building new gas-fired power plants. The post Germany’s CDU joins race to subsidise…

Germany’s CDU joins race to subsidise electricity prices

What’s behind Europe’s car industry crisis “There is very much a crisis" in the car industry, and workers are hit the hardest, trade unions warn.

As Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has invited key industry players on Thursday for a “strategic dialogue” on the future of the automotive sector, @euractiv.com takes a look at what is behind the current slump.

www.euractiv.com/section/econ...

What auto crisis? Carmakers are still making billions, NGO boss says “The car lobby has created this whole narrative that they are in crisis and that the EU is to blame for that. This is a complete fabrication,” said William Todts of T&E.

“The car lobby has created this whole narrative that they are in crisis and that the EU is to blame for that. This is a complete fabrication,” William Todts of Transport & Environment (T&E) told me in an interview. @euractiv.com

www.euractiv.com/section/econ...

The Brief – On life support The election frontrunners' main instrument to bring back growth seems to be good vibes. The post The Brief – On life support appeared first on Euractiv.

The Brief – On life support

EXCLUSIVE: Competitiveness Compass to call for ‘unprecedented’ cutting of red tape Euractiv has seen a draft of what Ursula von der Leyen has dubbed her "North Star" for the next five years – due to be published next week. The post EXCLUSIVE: Competitiveness Compass to call for ‘unprecedented’ cutting of red tape appeared first on…

EXCLUSIVE: Competitiveness Compass to call for ‘unprecedented’ cutting of red tape

The only constituency in Germany’s national election that matters Germany’s SPD pits Ukraine against retirees in last-ditch campaign pitch. The post The only constituency in Germany’s national election that matters appeared first on Euractiv.

The only constituency in Germany’s national election that matters

EU's work ‘dignity’ goal might be soon over EU institutions have been “walking on thin ice” when adopting the minimum wage directive, wrote Nicholas Emiliou, advocate-general of the CJEU.

"After decades in which the EU was mostly known for liberalising markets... the first von der Leyen Commission wanted to show that these times are finally over," writes @packroff.bsky.social in today's Economy Brief. eurac.tv/9XNX

German Greens slammed over social security reform proposal Over 40% of gross salaries now have to be paid in social contributions. The post German Greens slammed over social security reform proposal appeared first on Euractiv.

German Greens slammed over social security reform proposal

Hausdurchsuchung wegen Lappalien: Juraprofessor warnt vor staatlicher Einschüchterung Der Verfassungsrechtler Gerd Morgenthaler über Meinungsfreiheit, Hausdurchsuchungen wegen Lappalien und das neue Disziplinarrecht, das deutsche Beamte der Willkür ihrer Vorgesetzten ausliefert.

„Politiker müssen es sich gefallen lassen, scharf und polemisch kritisiert zu werden. Man darf im Rahmen seiner Meinungsfreiheit selbstverst. die Repräsentanten des Staates in dem Sinne delegitimieren, dass man ihre Politik lächerlich macht und versucht, sie blosszustellen.“

"Overall, a Scholz comeback still looks very unlikely – but so did Scholz's victory in 2021," writes @packroff.bsky.social in today's Brief.
eurac.tv/9XFJ

EPP: Commission should present proposal on relieving car industry from fines ‘ASAP’ The call comes as industry says they are "running out of time" to avoid fines for non-compliance with EU CO2 rules. The post EPP: Commission should present proposal on relieving car industry from fines ‘ASAP’ appeared first on Euractiv.

EPP: Commission should present proposal on relieving car industry from fines ‘ASAP’

Parliament negotiators caution against reforms conditionality for EU budget “We don’t want farmers to have payments suspended if a government doesn’t do a pension reform,” said the Parliament's lead negotiator Siegfried Mureșan. The post Parliament negotiators caution against reforms conditionality for EU budget appeared first…

Parliament negotiators caution against reforms conditionality for EU budget

EPP to call to ‘avoid penalties’ for carmakers but stick to 2025 CO2 targets Changes to CO2 rules for carmakers should "avoid legal challenges,” the draft EPP position paper says. The post EPP to call to ‘avoid penalties’ for carmakers but stick to 2025 CO2 targets appeared first on Euractiv.

EPP to call to ‘avoid penalties’ for carmakers but stick to 2025 CO2 targets

Analysts: What the EU could offer Trump to avoid new tariffs The EU should prepare for the "worst-case scenario" of new US tariffs, but the priority should be to prevent them, argues a new Bruegel paper.

Analysts: What the EU could offer Trump to avoid new tariffs

Pressure mounts on new Commission to set up emergency EU steel summit German S&D MEP Geier described the crisis of the industry as "10 minutes past midnight". The post Pressure mounts on new Commission to set up emergency EU steel summit appeared first on Euractiv.

Pressure mounts on new Commission to set up emergency EU steel summit

EU-Mercosur: The global alliance of herbivores starts today Despite Macron's opposition, the EU rejects US and Chinese protectionism, opting to boost global trade instead.

"Instead of further weakening global trade by replicating the protectionist policies of the US and China, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen doubled down on the need to boost it," writes @packroff.bsky.social in this week's Economy Brief. eurac.tv/9XBg

Das ging schnell #Mercosur

EU-Mercosur: The global alliance of herbivores starts today Despite Macron's opposition, the EU rejects US and Chinese protectionism, opting to boost global trade instead.

Despite Macron’s opposition, the EU rejects US and Chinese protectionism, opting to boost global trade instead. #Mercosur

@euractiv.com Economy Brief: The global alliance of herbivores starts today.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed on Friday (6 December) that the EU has reached a free trade agreement with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay – the Mercosur bloc.

✍ Anna Brunetti, Thomas Moller-Nielsen and @packroff.bsky.social
🔗 eurac.tv/9XBd

EU-Mercosur deal ‘in sight’ as von der Leyen lands in Montevideo "We have the chance to create a market of 700 million people. The largest trade and investment partnership the world," says Ursula von der Leyen.

Ursula von der Leyen and the EU's trade chief Maroš Šefčovič arrived in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Thursday morning (5 December), signalling a conclusion of negotiations on the EU-#Mercosur deal. @sofiamazzanaro.bsky.social reports with Thomas Moller-Nielsen

Wichtige Berechnung: Wenn die Union die Senkung des Strompreises mit den CO2-Einnahmen bezahlt, bleibt für sämtliche KTF-Förderprogramme praktisch kein Geld mehr übrig.

The final interinstitutional deal excludes all additional changes proposed by the conservative EPP, and supported by far-right groups, as the Council rejected any revisions beyond the one-year delay.

Scholz im Bericht aus Berlin: Ertrag Schuldenbremsenreform soll neben Verzicht auf Tilgung der Notkredite ab 2028 einen Umfang „im Bereich 5-10 Mrd.“ haben.

Das scheint mir sehr wenig gegeben dass zB ab 2028 das Sondervermögen BW mit mehr als 20 Mrd Ausgaben jährlich ausläuft.

A circular organisational chart depicting the structure and members of the European Commission under President Ursula von der Leyen. President: Ursula von der Leyen Executive Vice-Presidents : Henna Virkkunen Kaja Kallas Raffaele Fitto Roxana Mînzatu Stéphane Séjourné Teresa Ribera Rodríguez Commissioners: Maroš Šefčovič Valdis Dombrovskis Dubravka Šuica Olivér Várhelyi Wopke Hoekstra Andrius Kubilius Marta Kos Jozef Sikela Costas Kadis Maria Luís Albuquerque Hadja Lahbib Magnus Brunner Jessika Roswall Piotr Serafin Dan Jørgensen Ekaterina Zaharieva Michael McGrath Apostolos Tzitzikostas Christophe Hansen Glenn McAllister

The von der Leyen II Commission officially takes office today.

We will work on seven ambitious political priorities to make Europe stronger, safer and fairer.

For a stronger and more united future.

Es lebe Europa, vive l'Europe, long live Europe.

My response to the #omnibus proposal to re-open CSDDD, CSRD & Taxonomy:
Weakening or delaying these crucial laws risks undermining the EU’s leadership on sustainable finance&corporate responsibility at a time when the urgency of tackling climate breakdown&social inequalities has never been greater

Another important visualisation is this map via @jackschickler.bsky.social on how MEPs from member states voted - with a big France shaped hole, and notably stronger support for the Commission in the Nordics and Baltics, potentially reflecting their strive for a security & competitiveness agenda.