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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General Politics

Global Month Ahead: Elections in Spain, Shangri-La Dialogue, Summit on a New Global Financing Pact

General Politics

Ana Martínez
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Welcome back to the Global Month Ahead, your briefing on the events that will define the month to come, hosted by Associate Director Isabelle Trick.

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General Politics

Unpacking von der Leyen’s state of the EU

General Politics

Alessandro Gangarossa
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The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, delivered her third state of the European Union speech on September 14th before the European Parliament, giving sight of her priorities for 2023 and using a rare public platform to speak more directly to audiences beyond the immediate EU stakeholders. 

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General Politics

How resilient is the renewed EU-US cooperation?

General Politics

Ana Martínez
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Nearly two years on from President Biden’s election victory, the ill-tempered clashes between US and EU officials over trade, climate change and security during the last decade can appear a historical anomaly. Leaders on both sides are now increasingly aligned in diagnosing the threats posed by Russia and China and looking to multilateral bodies such as NATO or the UN to…

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Top in Tech: is tech policy still an EU priority?

TMT

Ana Martínez
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This week on Top in Tech, Conan D'Arcy is joined by Associate Director Max von Thun and EU Policy Practice Director Ana Martínez to discuss the past year in EU tech policy. Has the Ukraine conflict upended the European Commission's focus on tech, and what have been the big policy achievements so far?

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General Politics

Could Olaf Scholz be the new Chancellor of Germany?

General Politics

Thomas Gratowski
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With the German parliamentary elections and Angela Merkel’s departure after sixteen years, the scene seems set for profound changes, with months of coalition haggling ahead. But with a change of players and, maybe, a change of parties, will much really change in German politics? And how will that affect policy at home and in the EU?

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General Politics

A new German Chancellor will shake up the EU’s balance of power and perhaps its policy agenda

General Politics

Ana Martínez
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At today's European Council most eyes are on Slovenia and their plans as incoming Council presidency next week. However, a much bigger shakeup in the Justus Lipsius is likely to be triggered by Germany's election in September.

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General Politics

Will the EU digital covid certificate really save the summer?

General Politics

Ana Martínez
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On June 14th, the EU digital covid certificate was signed into law. The regulation will apply for 12 months as of July 1st. This was an unusually rapid agreement by Brussels’ standards, reflecting the crucial importance of allowing tourism to restart safely for those member states that depend on it.  

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Three views on the US election

General Policy

Joe Armitage
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At this point - with Joe Biden likely to win the presidency - the UK government has probably started to build and strengthen relationships with individuals in Biden’s team who are set to lead the transition process. However, given that President Trump still has a slim chance of successfully contesting the outcome in key states and remaining in office, any such outreach to…

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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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The EU’s new long term budget: a “Hamiltonian moment” for the European Union?

General Policy

Ana Martínez
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After the difficult negotiations of the longest ever EU summit, EU leaders agreed last week on a €750 billion recovery fund and at least one new EU tax. Some called it a “Hamiltonian moment” for the European Union. Practice Lead Denzil Davidson and Senior Associate Ana Martínez examine what was agreed, the politics that got us here, the disputes that still haven’t been…

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General Politics

The first 100 days of the Geopolitical Commission and beyond

General Politics

Tom White
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Global Counsel Director, Tom White, Energy Practice Lead, Ermenegilda Boccabella and Senior Associate Ana Martínez discuss the first 100 days of the von der Leyen Commission, and what the outbreak of covid-19 might mean for the future.

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General Politics

What comes after Spain’s election?

General Politics

Ana Martínez
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Following an afternoon event, Senior Associate Ana Martínez is joined by Charles Powell, director of think tank Real Instituto Elcano, and Laura Bardone, country head for Spain in the European Commission's DG ECFIN, to discuss the outcomes of the recent Spanish elections and potential policies of a left-wing government and what it means for Spain’s ambitions in the EU.

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General Politics

Will von der Leyen succeed in maintaining the balance of power in the institutions?

General Politics

Ana Martínez
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Ursula von der Leyen is a President already in some ways defined by compromise and balance. When member states were unable to agree on the principle of nominating one of the European Parliament’s Spitzenkandidaten, she was chosen to fill the role. Margrethe Vestager and Frans Timmermans hold the highest positions in her team in order to broadly balance the interests of…

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General Politics

The geopolitical Commission? Politics and policy in the 2019-2024 EU policy cycle

General Politics

Tom White
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The political guidelines for the 2019-2024 European Commission, and its priorities for the first 100 days, are wide-ranging and open to different interpretations. This is in contrast with its predecessor which (at the outset) could set as its over-riding priority the restoration of economic growth in Europe.

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General Politics

Will Ursula von der Leyen’s weak start matter?

General Politics

Ana Martínez
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Ursula von der Leyen’s narrow win on Tuesday - just nine seats above the required majority – has widely been interpreted as a sign of trouble ahead for her commission and its ability to push through legislation. But is this right? There are some reasons to think it might not be.

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General Politics

Unintended consequences of Italy's fiscal reprieve

General Politics

Ana Martínez
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During the Eurogroup meeting on February 11th, the European Commission is expected to present a detailed account of its decision to halt the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP) against Italy. The back and forth between Brussels and Rome at the end of last year kept some of us at the edge of our seat. But the EDP was not only an existential crisis for Rome and the euro zone…

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General Politics

Spain's European reinvention?

General Politics

Ana Martínez
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I have just spent an interesting week in Madrid talking with people from every part of the political spectrum. There was a lot of talk of Spain flexing its muscles more in Europe. In the background to these conversations, Spain was pushing hard for – and got – concessions from the UK over Gibraltar that prompted Pedro Sánchez to trail the prospect of co-sovereignty for…

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