MEDIA

New Europe’s cover story on economic freedom

17 September 2021

Overall, the EU has an economic freedom score of 7.78 out of 10, which has been stable for the past decade. To put this in perspective, if the EU was a country, it would jointly rank 35th with Peru, and marginally above Jamaica and Bulgaria. Compared to, say, the U.S. which ranks 6th, the EU’s score is feeble at best. Read the full cover story by Alexander Hammond in New Europe.

1828 features a debate on Afghanistan with our Director

11 August 2021

Afghanistan is a textbook example of the sunk cost fallacy – where throwing additional financial and human resources at the problem will not improve the outcome. The fallout from two decades of Western military engagement is truly dire: 200,000 dead, including 50,000 civilians, a weak and unstable Afghani government, and radical islamist ideas as popular as ever before. Read the full debate on 1828.

Brussels report features our briefing on DSA

6 July 2021

In order to deliver a successful strategy, to avoid conflicts between EU Member States and the European Commission, the best strategy is to conceive national competition authorities as the ‘executive arms’ of the new digital regulation, particularly when national players are affected. In this way, the knowledge and experience of national regulators can be put to best use. Read the full article here.

CCC podcast on Belarus with our Director

1 July 2021

The Consumer Choice Center interviewed our Director for a podcast on the Belarusian sanctions. Adam Bartha praised the EU for implementing further sanctions on the Lukashenko regime, but also expressed a need to go further to help the local population — through financial instruments and an open door policies for dissidents wishing to settle on EU soil. Listen to the podcast here.

EPICENTER briefing covered by Mace Magazine

29 June 2021

The European Commission claims that the Digital Services Act (DSA) will deliver much-needed harmonisation and clarity of regulation. In fact, it introduces new risks and costs on businesses without adequate justification. If the European Commission aims to improve the competitiveness of Europe’s digital economy and to safeguard the interests of European consumers, its proposals must be significantly amended. Read the full article here.

Brussels Report covers our briefing on ECB

16 June 2021

The ECB’s accounts have become the waste-bin for the financial garbage of the entire Eurozone. In this zero-sum game, there are winners and losers. At the moment, Northern European countries, Germany in particular, are losing. Looking at the legal structure of the new “Next Generation EU” scheme it becomes apparent that the “Eurobonds” that are about to be issued will be ultimately guaranteed by EU Member States, in proportion to the amounts they are about to receive. Read the full article here.