Insights

General Politics

The next European Political Cycle

General Politics

Ana Martínez
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Our report looks ahead to the start of a new European political cycle in 2024, with changes in the college of Commissioners, a new European Parliament, a new President of the European Council and perhaps a new Commission President. It also considers the coming set of challenges for European businesses and civil society to ensure their arguments and evidence are relevant…

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Global Month Ahead: G20 Leaders’ Summit, Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union address, and the IEA’s inaugural Critical Minerals Summit.

General Policy

Ed King
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On this month’s episode of the Global Month Ahead, Associate Director Isabelle Trick is joined by Senior Associate Ed King, Europe Director Tom White, and Associate Giulia Pasquali to discuss the G20 Leaders’ Summit, Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union address, and the IEA’s inaugural Critical Minerals Summit.

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General Politics

Global Month Ahead: Nigerian elections, EU Green Deal Industrial Plan, and the state of the Ukraine war

General Politics

Alexander van der Wusten
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Welcome back to the Global Month Ahead, Global Counsel's briefing on the events and stories that will define the month to come. In each episode, Global Macro Associate Director Isabelle Trick will hear from different members of the GC team to preview the month's stories before they are in the headlines.

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Decoupling of data flows: perspectives from the US and EU

TMT

Franck Thomas
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The modern internet runs on the free flow of data across the Atlantic ocean. But as policymakers push toward different systems for the regulation of data collection, what are the implications of a decoupling of data between the US and EU?

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General Politics

Any post-Frost return to ‘diplomacy’ will still leave UK business to fend for themselves in Brussels

General Politics

Tom White
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This week’s anniversary of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides a moment for firms to review operational adaptation to Brexit, planned and revised at speed as ‘no deal’ was (partially) avoided last Christmas Eve. However, Lord Frost’s dramatic resignation – and signs that power over EU relations could trickle back from Downing Street to the Foreign Office – is…

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Morten Petersen MEP: Will Fit for 55 get the EU to net zero?

Energy & Commodities

Tom White
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The Fit for 55 package currently being negotiated sets out much of the legislative backbone that will drive Europe toward net zero. A key challenge that could break the green deal’s success is achieving effective integration of energy systems in transport, industry and power production across the 27-member bloc. Billions of investments are at stake and European operators…

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Buckle up: the impact of the Fit for 55 package for industry

Energy & Commodities

Tom White
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Three weeks after its release, industry stakeholders and policy makers are reacting to the European Commission's Fit for 55 Package. The set of proposals consists of twelve highly interlinked measures across emissions pricing, transport and energy.

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How the Fit for 55 package will impact the energy sector

Energy & Commodities

Tom White
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Two weeks after its release, industry stakeholders and policy makers have started reacting to the commission's Fit for 55 Package. The set of proposals consists of twelve highly interlinked measures across emissions pricing, transport and energy.

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General Politics

Reshaping the EU: policy agenda for 2021-2024

General Politics

Tom White
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Over the last month, we have brought together our team of experts and prominent policymakers to discuss and debate the key challenges for the EU’s policy agenda for the next three years. It is hard to capture the breadth and range of issues and ideas we covered across the four events, and you will find links to all of them below if you would like to watch them. We…

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General Politics

The role of digitisation in the 'geopolitical' commission

General Politics

Tom White
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A striking element of the current European Commission is its emphasis on supporting individual technologies, sectors and “ecosystems”. 

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General Politics

Assessing the impact of the green transition

General Politics

Tom White
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Meaningful policy action on climate change entails costs and reforms for almost all economic activity, and at the European level we are starting to see what this means in practice. 

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General Politics

Reshaping the EU: Policy agenda for 2021-2024 with Augusto Santos Silva

General Politics

Peter Mandelson
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Was Portugal’s push for a social recovery a success?

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General Politics

The Conference on the Future of Europe with Sophia Russack

General Politics

Tom White
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Tom White, Director in GC's office in Brussels, is joined by Maarten Lemstra, Research Analyst at Global Counsel and Sophia Russack, Researcher in the Institutions unit at CEPS.

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Can the UK 'go its own way' on energy policy?

Energy & Commodities

Tom White
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Tom White, Director; Ermenegilda Boccabella, Energy and Climate Adviser and Lilah Howson-Smith, Senior Associate discuss the UK's emerging priorities on energy policy after leaving the EU.

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General Politics

Reviewing Germany’s EU presidency with Olaf Scholz

General Politics

Peter Mandelson
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On a recent Global Counsel digital event, Lord Mandelson and German Vice Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, discussed the work of the German presidency, the EU’s strategic autonomy and German politics. 

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General Politics

Brussels woos Biden

General Politics

Stephen Adams
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Stephen Adams, Senior Director, Tom White, Director, and Miranda Lutz, Senior Associate, discuss the tensions in the EU's published strategy for rapprochement with the incoming Biden administration, what it means for businesses and why there is more than a little sense of catharsis in Brussels' response to the new administration.

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General Politics

Protectionism or power? Understanding the EU debate on open strategic autonomy

General Politics

Tom White
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Tom White, Director, Ana Martinez, Practice Lead for EU Policy and Denzil Davidson, Practice Lead for Financial Services and EU Institutions examine the EU’s policy of open strategic autonomy, what it means in practice and how it is likely to evolve.

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General Politics

Who speaks for Europe’s taxpayers? The politics of tax in the EU’s recovery plan

General Politics

Tom White
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As lockdowns across EU countries are lifted and exceptional financial support for businesses is wound down, attention is turning to economic stimulus. Germany’s package of tax cuts last week highlighted how consumption taxes can be an important tool for boosting and targeting consumer purchasing power: VAT will be cut from 19% to 16% for most purchases, and from 7% to 5%…

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