EPICENTER

April 22, 2026

EU Regulatory Observatory: The TTD at a Crossroads

This briefing examines whether the proposed revision of the Tobacco Taxation Directive (TTD) is a genuine risk-proportionate reform or simply a revenue grab that undermines public health goals.
April 14, 2026

EXPRESSO.PT: HUNGARY UNDER MAGYAR KEEPS RUSSIAN ENERGY AND REJECTS FAST TRACK FOR UKRAINE IN THE EU

In Expresso.pt, Epicenter’s Adam Bartha analyzed the early steps of Péter Magyar’s government in Hungary, noting its continued reliance on Russian energy and rejection of a fast-track EU accession for Ukraine. He assessed whether this signals a real shift toward free-market reforms or a continuation of pragmatic but interventionist policies that have held back Hungary’s economic performance in recent years.
April 14, 2026

REASON.COM: WITH VIKTOR ORBÁN GONE, WILL HUNGARY EMBRACE FREE MARKETS UNDER PÉTER MAGYAR?

In Reason.com, Epicenter’s Adam Bartha commented on the defeat of Viktor Orbán and the prospects for free-market reforms under new Prime Minister Péter Magyar. He noted that Hungary has fallen from one of the top post-communist performers to the second-worst EU member due to Orbán’s cronyism and state intervention, and expressed cautious optimism that the new government could shift toward genuine free-market policies, drawing lessons from Poland’s stronger reform record.
April 1, 2026

Red Tape, Neatly Folded

The EU has placed regulatory simplification at the centre of its competitiveness agenda, with the Environmental Omnibus presented as a flagship effort to reduce administrative burdens while preserving environmental ambition.
March 25, 2026

Building Europe at Any Cost: Does EU-Funded Transport Infrastructure Deliver Value for European Taxpayers?

This paper argues that the case for large-scale EU-funded transport projects is often overstated, with persistent cost overruns, delays, and questionable economic returns undermining their value to taxpayers.
March 17, 2026

BNR.BG: MADE IN EUROPE – STRATEGIC AUTONOMY OR FREE TRADE?

In BNR’s Euranet Plus podcast “Evropa Utre”, IME’s experts discussed whether Europe should pursue strategic autonomy or prioritize free trade in its “Made in Europe” strategy. They argued that openness to global trade, deregulation, and competitiveness are essential for Europe’s economic success, rather than protectionist or overly regulatory approaches to achieving autonomy.
March 16, 2026

LA STAMPA: PARCEL TAX AND PONTE, THE RULE OF DISORDER

In La Stampa, Epicenter’s analysis was referenced in the discussion on Italy’s “parcel tax” and the broader rule of disorder in public administration and legislation. The piece highlighted how fragmented and poorly coordinated rules continue to burden businesses and citizens, calling for deeper deregulation and structural reforms to restore order and competitiveness in the Italian and European economy.

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EPICENTER publications and contributions from our member think tanks are designed to promote the discussion of economic issues and the role of markets in solving economic and social problems. As with all EPICENTER publications, the views expressed here are those of the author and not EPICENTER or its member think tanks (which have no corporate view).

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EPICENTER publications and contributions from our member think tanks are designed to promote the discussion of economic issues and the role of markets in solving economic and social problems. As with all EPICENTER publications, the views expressed here are those of the author and not EPICENTER or its member think tanks (which have no corporate view).

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