EPICENTER

In BNRnews.bg, IME’s chief economist Lachezar Bogdanov analyzed the economic, legal and political dimensions of the EU-Mercosur agreement. He argued that while some farmers see the postponement as a victory, it represents an economic own goal for Europe, as the bloc needs greater openness to global trade to counter pressures from US tariffs and Chinese protectionism and to unlock growth for competitive industries.

In Economic.bg, IME’s chief economist Lachezar Bogdanov highlighted that the European Parliament has once again blocked a key opportunity for freer trade and stronger EU growth by rejecting the Mercosur agreement. He stressed that Europe needs to move away from excessive regulation and embrace economic freedom if it wants to boost prosperity amid near-zero growth in the eurozone and rising global competition.

In Dnevik, IME showcased a new manifesto called ‘Deregulation, not Simplification’ which focuses on measurable, tangible steps to reduce bureaucracy at both national and European level, while promoting competitiveness and dynamic market systems. By embracing market-oriented reforms, digital innovation and smarter regulation, governments can unlock Europe's full economic potential.

In Dnevik, IME showcased a new manifesto called ‘Deregulation, not Simplification’ which focuses on measurable, tangible steps to reduce bureaucracy at both national and European level, while promoting competitiveness and dynamic market systems. By embracing market-oriented reforms, digital innovation and smarter regulation, governments can unlock Europe's full economic potential.

Carlo Stagnaro of Istituto Bruno Leoni argues in Il Foglio that while EU digital regulations often burden innovation, abolishing the Union would worsen fragmentation and reduce freedoms. Evidence shows EU membership safeguards expression better than in illiberal states like Hungary, with many tech restrictions stemming from national governments, not Brussels. Historically, integration has boosted growth through liberalisation and competition – making Musk’s call to dismantle the EU counterproductive.

A new EPICENTER project shows that the quality of EU legislation is sharply declining: directives are increasingly verbose and syntactically complex, with sentences averaging nearly 39 words – well beyond plain-language recommendations. This growing obscurity, worsened by European Parliament amendments, drives up compliance costs, creates legal uncertainty and acts as a hidden tax on innovation. Clearer law-making, the analysis concludes, is vital for European growth.

KEFiM – an EPICENTER member think tank – analysed 190 Greek laws and 61 EU directives from 2022–2024, finding Greek legislation far bulkier: average 54 articles over 60 pages versus 49 articles and 25 pages for EU directives. Consultations are rushed at 16 days (EU: 84 days), while only 10% of Greek impact assessments quantify effects (EU: 65%). In 2025, Greece enacted 85 laws totalling 5,217 pages, with 71% including unrelated provisions, exacerbating complexity, implementation issues and transparency gaps.