By Tarik Dias Hamdan Volkswagen beyond the car industry Major developments are unfolding at Volkswagen in Germany, with implications that go beyond the company itself. Volkswagen is not merely a carmaker: it is one of the central symbols of German coordinated capitalism, built on social partnership between management, workers, trade unions and, in Volkswagen’s case,Continue reading “Volkswagen’s restructuring and the limits of German social partnership and co-determination “
Category Archives: Economy
United In Diversity, Divided in Integration? The Debate of Europe’s ‘Two-Speed’ Future
By Efthimios Kounalakis Mario Draghi’s engagement with the notion of a “two-speed Europe” during the European Union Summit on 12 February 2026 reflects a growing concern that the Union risks stagnation in strategic areas of European integration unless Member States secure the political will to pursue deeper cooperation. Differentiated integration is a widely studied conceptContinue reading “United In Diversity, Divided in Integration? The Debate of Europe’s ‘Two-Speed’ Future”
The Hormuz Crisis and its Effects on the European Automotive Sector
By Simone Capuozzo The European automotive sector is at a turning point. After years of debating the need for green policies and drafting strategies for their implementation, decarbonisation deadlines are finally approaching. But why are carmakers facing so much pressure? The answer is simple: passenger cars are one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases,Continue reading “The Hormuz Crisis and its Effects on the European Automotive Sector”
EU Trade Policy: A New Engine of Global Relevance
By Riccardo Mouchanan Introduction From the Covid-19 pandemic, which showed the unstable nature of our supply chains, to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the second Trump administration’s rollback of the historical US role as guardian of democracy, Europe witnessed and underwent profound changes. Never has the Union been so exposed to unilateral actions fromContinue reading “EU Trade Policy: A New Engine of Global Relevance”
Stability and Growth Pact 2024 Reform: Ending the “One-Size-Fits-All” Approach?
By Alexandre Mies Since the eurozone crisis in the 2010s and especially since the Covid crisis, the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP), or the Eurozone’s fiscal rules, increasingly revealed its limits. Before 2024, the SGP imposed the same quantitative budgetary rules on the 20 eurozone Member States, inherited from the 1992 Maastricht Treaty: public deficitContinue reading “Stability and Growth Pact 2024 Reform: Ending the “One-Size-Fits-All” Approach?”
Critical Raw Materials: A Fragile Foundation in Europe’s Green Transition?
By Federica Attianese As Europe advances its twin transitions –the shift to green energy and towards the digital economy– it is becoming evident that reaching these goals depend on a precarious base: the availability of critical raw materials (CRMs). Whether it is lithium or rare earth elements, the demand for such resources is increasing. Yet,Continue reading “Critical Raw Materials: A Fragile Foundation in Europe’s Green Transition? “
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