Media

In ForbesBulgaria.com, Petar Ganev from the Institute for Market Economics (IME), as part of the Epicenter network, warned that Bulgaria’s support for a significantly larger EU budget through the ‘Friends of Cohesion’ group carries serious risks, including new European taxes and greater fiscal centralisation. The article presents the network’s Alternative EU Budget proposal, which caps the Multiannual Financial Framework at around 1% of GNI, calls for deep cuts to inefficient spending, and prioritises competitiveness and the Single Market over expanding fiscal transfers.

In BTA.bg, the Institute for Market Economics (IME), as part of the Epicenter network, warned that Bulgaria’s support for a significantly larger EU budget through the ‘Friends of Cohesion’ group carries serious risks, including new European taxes and greater fiscal centralisation. The article presents the network’s Alternative EU Budget proposal, which caps the Multiannual Financial Framework at around 1% of GNI, calls for deep cuts to inefficient spending, and prioritises competitiveness and the Single Market over expanding fiscal transfers.

In Newsbeast.gr, the Centre for Liberal Studies (KEFiM), as part of the Epicenter network, presented its latest study on the Greek and EU pension systems. The analysis projects that by 2029 workers’ and employers’ contributions will cover approximately 62% of pension expenditure in Greece, with the remaining 38% still funded directly from the state budget through taxes. The study highlights the heavy reliance on the pay-as-you-go model, draws parallels with the EU institutions’ own unfunded pension system (79% funded from the current EU budget), and calls for a gradual shift toward greater capitalisation to reduce long-term pressure on workers and taxpayers.

In Dnews.gr, the Centre for Liberal Studies (KEFiM), as part of the Epicenter network, presented its new policy paper on the competitiveness of the Greek and European economy. The study shows Greece falling three places to 50th out of 69 economies in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2025, with the largest decline in business efficiency. The analysis links Greece’s structural weaknesses to broader EU challenges following the Draghi Report, criticising the proposed new Multiannual Financial Framework for failing to address capital market fragmentation and regulatory barriers to the Single Market.

In Protothema.gr, the Centre for Liberal Studies (KEFiM), as part of the Epicenter network, presented its new policy paper on the competitiveness of the Greek and European economy. The study shows Greece ranking 50th out of 69 economies in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2025, dropping three places from the previous year. The analysis links Greece’s poor performance to bureaucracy, limited access to capital, and slow reforms, while connecting national challenges to the broader EU debate following the Draghi Report and the proposed new Multiannual Financial Framework.

In Newsbeast.gr, the Centre for Liberal Studies (KEFiM), as part of the Epicenter network, presented its new policy paper on the competitiveness of the Greek and European economy. The study shows Greece ranking 50th out of 69 economies in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2025, dropping three places from the previous year, and links poor performance to persistent bureaucracy, brain drain, and slow reforms. The analysis connects Greek challenges to the broader EU debate following the Draghi Report, criticising the Commission’s proposed new Multiannual Financial Framework for failing to address fragmentation of capital markets and regulatory barriers to the Single Market.

In BrusselsReport.eu, Marek Tatala, CEO of the Economic Freedom Foundation, endorsed Epicenter’s Alternative EU Budget proposal, arguing that a genuinely European budget should focus on cross-border priorities such as the Single Market, security, and infrastructure rather than ever-larger spending. The article supports capping the budget and applying a strict subsidiarity test, criticising the illusion that simply expanding the Multiannual Financial Framework will make Europe stronger or more competitive.

In Ilfoglio.it, economist Nicola Rossi analyses Italy’s push for greater fiscal flexibility within the EU’s economic governance framework. The article discusses the Italian government’s request for more budgetary room in the context of the ongoing Multiannual Financial Framework negotiations, warning that this comes at an inopportune moment amid rising interest rates and global macroeconomic imbalances, and stresses the need for any additional flexibility to remain strictly temporary and paired with a clear path back to fiscal discipline.

In NZZ.ch, Epicenter’s network of liberal think tanks, including Germany’s Prometheus-Institut, presented its Alternative EU Budget proposal, demonstrating how the Multiannual Financial Framework could be reduced by around €220 billion to €1.54 trillion (1% of GNI). The article criticises the Commission’s €1.763 trillion plan and new own resources, advocating deep cuts to non-core spending such as agriculture, cohesion policy, and climate funds, while prioritising the deepening of the Single Market, genuine cross-border public goods, and fiscal discipline over expanding joint debt and centralisation.