DOCSLIB.ORG

The STATE of EUROPE a New Action Plan for Europe

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The STATE of EUROPE a New Action Plan for Europe THE STATE OF EUROPE A new action plan for Europe Autumn 2014 With the support of Media partners Friends of Europe is a leading think-tank that aims to stimulate thinking on key global and European political challenges. We are a key player in 6 policy areas: Future Europe | Smarter Europe | Greener Europe Quality Europe | Global Europe | Security Europe THE STATE OF EuropE A new action plan for Europe Report of the eleventh annual high-level roundtable for Friends of Europe Trustees, top policymakers, business leaders, civil society representatives and opinion-formers organised by Friends of Europe Also with direct input from Europe's citizens through Debating Europe Autumn 2014 Egmont Palace, Brussels Some of the familiar faces and household names who have used Friends of Europe’s high-profile yet neutral platform to put across their ideas to decision makers and to public opinion For more information on Friends of Europe’s work and to download our publications, please visit www.friendsofeurope.org friendsofeurope friendsofeurope friendsofeurope.foe friendsofeurope This report reflects the conference rapporteur’s understanding of the views expressed by participants. Moreover, these views are not necessarily those Table of contents of the organisations that participants represent, nor of Friends of Europe, its FOREWORD 5 Board of Trustees, members or partners. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6 Reproduction in whole or in part is permitted, provided that full credit is Annual roundtable demands given to Friends of Europe and that any such reproduction, whether in action from new EU leaders 6 whole or in part, is not sold unless incorporated in other works. A NEW ACTIOPON PLAN FOR EUROPE 9 Looking for solutions 11 Time to get more competitive 17 Job creation 21 Have we forgotten the environment 18 Security under increased threat 31 The changing stance of the U.S. 40 Looking for solutions 11 state OF EUROPE VIEWPOINTS 46 Turning "incomplete Europe" into competitive Europe by Joaquín Almunia 47 Social Europe: Regain citizens's trust with bold new actions by Elisabeth Guigou 49 Why global Europe must change in an "anxious age " by Shada Islam 51 Europe is killing NATO by Julian Lindley-French 57 Rapporteur: Sebastian Moffett The right kind of (green) growth by Jürgen Trittin 59 Publisher: Geert Cami On Europe's retreating union: Diagnosis and Project Director: Nathalie Furrer a proposal by Yanis Varoufakis 61 Project Managers: Françoise Soudaz, Laetitia Garcia Moreno, Nigel Olisa Photographers: David Plas, Philippe Molitor ANNEX I - List of discussants 65 Design & Layout: Cristina Frauca ANNEX II - Programme 69 © Friends of Europe, November 2014 ANNEX III - List of observers 74 This report is printed on sustainably produced paper 4 Friends of Europe | Future of Europe The State of Europe: A new action plan for Europe | Autumn 2014 5 FOREWORD It’s been quite a year. Elections to the European Parliament in May highlighted growing public disaffection with the European Union; there was a surge in public support for populist parties across Europe; a bruising institutional squabble followed over the appointment of a new president of the European Commission; and the debate over growth vs austerity grew louder and more acrimonious. On the foreign policy front, meanwhile, the EU struggled to deal with an increasingly assertive Russia and the spread of Islamic extremists on its southern flanks. All these questions were top of the agenda of Friends of Europe’s annual “State of Europe” VIP roundtable, with some of the continent’s most influential policymakers, parliamentarians, business leaders and civil society representatives giving their views on Europe’s many challenges - and aspirations for the future. Organised at the start of Friends of Europe’s 15th anniversary year, with the support of the Italian government as holders of the EU presidency, participants hammered out a roadmap for the EU's new leaders, calling for more-assertive policies to ensure growth, fight stubbornly high unemployment, boost competition, make Europe greener and play a stronger role on the world stage. Discussions were animated – with many speakers voicing deep unease about the future direction of Europe and the complex and interconnected challenges facing the EU’s new leaders. In addition to the discussion among Roundtable participants, Debating Europe brought in questions posed by European citizens on all five of the sessions: Future Europe, Smarter Europe, Greener Europe, Better Europe and Global Europe. Once again, the Roundtable brought together high-level participants from across Europe. This summary of the debates illustrates that it is indeed time for a new action plan for Europe. The EU’s new leaders should take heed. Giles Merritt Geert Cami Secretary General Co-founder and Director Friends of Europe Friends of Europe Jean-Paul Kress Benedetto Della Vedova Lirim Muharemi President and Chief Under-Secretary of State President of LM & CO Executive Officer for Foreign Affairs, Kapital Invest and Sanofi Pasteur MSD Italy Chairman of Lightbringer Foundation 6 Friends of Europe | Future of Europe The State of Europe: A new action plan for Europe | Autumn 2014 7 High unemployment appears to be alienating young people, who are tired of EXECUTIVE summary unfulfilled promises and summits with no results, said Reiner Hoffmann, President of the German Confederation of Trade Unions. “This leads to young people who don’t Annual roundtable demands action from trust politicians and don't have trust in Europe,” he said. new EU leaders With so much focus on economic problems, some environmentalists worry that green policies are seen as a brake on growth. They point out that capital spent on Friends of Europe’s high-level annual roundtable hammered out a roadmap for large-scale energy efficiency measures would create jobs and reduce spending on the EU's new leaders, calling for more-assertive policies to fight stubbornly high imported energy. There is “a very deeply flawed assumption, that there is a trade-off unemployment, boost competition, make Europe greener and play a stronger role between the jobs and growth agenda and actually being sustainable,” said Sony on the world stage. Kapoor, Managing Director of Re-Define, a think tank. “I think that couldn't be State of Europe 2014 took place at a difficult and bruising period for the EU as it further from the truth. However, it’s a major challenge to persuade businesses and moves from crisis to crisis. Fears of a Eurozone collapse may have eased but State consumers of this.” of Europe participants noted that the economy is hardly growing - and could possibly “This is not something for the short term,” said outgoing Environment Commissioner be on the verge of another recession. Unemployment is high especially among Janez Potocnik. “What I am really worried about is that democracies today are not young people – who feel growing alienation and mistrust of their governments and rewarding people who are thinking long term.” of the EU. Russia’s invasion of the Crimea took most Europeans by surprise early in 2014, This, in turn, contributed to the strong results for anti-EU parties at the European and showed up vulnerabilities in the EU's security architecture. Though the EU Parliament elections in May 2014 – and may reduce the prospects for Europe-wide deploys tools such as diplomacy, trade and aid, it does not have the military force to solutions to economic problems. “I believe that for the next five years, we will have back these up. NATO is heavily dependent on U.S. leadership, a burden that some huge challenges,” said Mario Monti, former Italian Prime Minister and Friends of Americans are becoming weary of. Europe's Trustee. “That is good because we know that Europe only makes progress through challenges.” “If Crimea is not a wakeup call that defence spending is inadequate then they might have to wait till it's too late,” said James Rubin, Scholar in Residence at the One place to start could be greater public investment. As well as boosting short-term Rothermere American Institute, Oxford and former US Assistant Secretary of State. demand, this could create a basis for growth and thus benefit future generations. The next challenge from Russia could come in the Baltic states, he said. Because Current low interest rates in countries like Germany mean that the return from public these countries, unlike Ukraine, are members of both the European Union and investments should be greater than that from continuing to save money, Monti said. NATO, the West would be obliged to act. “We can no longer afford to act as if the future were not economically relevant,” he said. “That is the case in a system which does not recognise the particular role of However, Britain, France and Germany have their individual interests in Russia and investment, including of public investment.” President Vladimir Putin is trying to use these in order to divide the EU. “Europe is certainly still a financial and economic giant,” said former NATO Secretary General The incoming President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, wants and Friends of Europe's Trustee Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. “It is a political adolescent to focus on a few key areas, such as energy and the digital economy, where markets and it is a military pygmy.” are still divided along national lines. Outgoing Competition Commissioner and Friends of Europe's Trustee Joaquin Almunia argued that a true European single Some Europeans think the time is to be bold. Sylvie Goulard, Member of the European market would allow many smaller European firms to expand across the EU's 28 Parliament Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Friends of Europe's members and become more competitive globally. “We at the Commission are in Trustee, said Brussels should listen more to Eurosceptics and the anti- European favour of eliminating barriers,” he told the meeting.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Télécharger (79.278 Kb
    COMMISSION EUROPEENNE Bruxelles, le 8 mars 2013 CALENDRIER du 11 au 17 mars 2013 (Susceptible de modifications en cours de semaine) Activités des Institutions Déplacements et visites Lundi 11 mars Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) Mr Andris PIEBALGS receives Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal, Mr Brites PEREIRA and General Affairs Council (GAC) Secretary of State of European Affairs of Portugal, Mr Transport, Telecommunications and Miguel MORAIS LEITÃO Energy Council (TTE Transport) Ms Androulla VASSILIOU in Dublin: gives a press European Parliament plenary session conference at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham (RHK); (11-14/03) delivers opening speech at the "EU Youth conference 2013" organised by the Irish presidency Ms Maria DAMANAKI and Mr Dacian CIOLOŞ in Dublin: deliver speeches at the meeting of the AgriFish Committees Chairpersons from National Parliaments of the European Union. Mr Dacian CIOLOŞ also delivers a speech at the European Young Farmers conference Ms Kristalina GEORGIEVA attends the Friends of Europe event "Japan Seminar - For a More Resilient Word" Ms Cecilia MALMSTRÖM receives Ms Eva Birgitta OHLSSON, Minister for European Union Affairs of Sweden Ms Cecilia MALMSTRÖM receives Ms Vesna PUSIĆ, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia Mardi 12 mars Mr Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ meets Ms M. Michel BARNIER rencontre M. Benoît HAMON, Ministre Lucinda CREIGHTON, Minister of délégué auprès du ministre français de l'Economie et des State for European affairs of Ireland,
    [Show full text]
  • European Parliament: 7Th February 2017 Redistribution of Political Balance
    POLICY PAPER European issues n°420 European Parliament: 7th February 2017 redistribution of political balance Charles de Marcilly François Frigot At the mid-term of the 8th legislature, the European Parliament, in office since the elections of May 2014, is implementing a traditional “distribution” of posts of responsibility. Article 19 of the internal regulation stipulates that the Chairs of the parliamentary committees, the Deputy-Chairs, as well as the questeurs, hold their mandates for a renewable 2 and a-half year period. Moreover, internal elections within the political groups have supported their Chairs, whilst we note that there has been some slight rebalancing in terms of the coordinators’ posts. Although Italian citizens draw specific attention with the two main candidates in the battle for the top post, we should note other appointments if we are to understand the careful balance between nationalities, political groups and individual experience of the European members of Parliament. A TUMULTUOUS PRESIDENTIAL provide collective impetus to potential hesitations on the part of the Member States. In spite of the victory of the European People’s Party (EPP) in the European elections, it supported Martin As a result the election of the new President of Schulz in July 2104 who stood for a second mandate as Parliament was a lively[1] affair: the EPP candidate – President of the Parliament. In all, with the support of the Antonio Tajani – and S&D Gianni Pittella were running Liberals (ADLE), Martin Schulz won 409 votes following neck and neck in the fourth round of the relative an agreement concluded by the “grand coalition” after majority of the votes cast[2].
    [Show full text]
  • En En Draft Agenda
    European Parliament 2019 - 2024 Committee on Legal Affairs JURI(2020)1116_1 DRAFT AGENDA Meeting Monday 16 November 2020, 9.00 – 11.00 and 11.30 – 12.30 and 13.45 – 15.45 Brussels Room: József Antall (4Q1) 16 November 2020, 9.00 – 11.00 1. Adoption of agenda 2. Chair’s announcements 9.05 - Checking the quorum *** Voting time *** 3. Sustainable corporate governance JURI/9/03635 2020/2137(INI) Rapporteur: Pascal Durand (Renew) PR – PE655.848v01-00 AM – PE658.892v01-00 Responsible: JURI OJ\PE660246v01-00en.rtf PE660.246v01-00 EN United in diversityEN Opinions: INTA Heidi Hautala (Verts/ALE) AD – PE655.716v03-00 AM – PE657.472v01-00 ECON Decision: no opinion EMPL Decision: no opinion ENVI Pascal Canfin (Renew) AD – PE658.727v02-00 AM – PE658.927v01-00 Adoption of draft report Deadline for tabling amendments:7 October 2020, 12.00 4. Representative actions for the protection of the collective interests of consumers JURI/9/02015 ***II 2018/0089(COD) 09573/1/2020 – C9-0355/2020 T8-0222/2019 Rapporteur: Geoffroy Didier (PPE) PR – PE659.054v01-00 Responsible: JURI Adoption of draft recommendation for second reading 5. Service in the Member States of judicial and extrajudicial documents in civil or commercial matters (service of documents) JURI/9/02017 ***II 2018/0204(COD) 09890/2/2020 – C9-0356/2020 T8-0104/2019 Rapporteur: Franco Roberti (S&D) PR – PE660.172v01-00 Responsible: JURI Adoption of draft recommendation for second reading 6. Cooperation between the courts of the Member States in the taking of evidence in civil or commercial matters JURI/9/02016 ***II 2018/0203(COD) 09889/2/2020 – C9-0357/2020 T8-0103/2019 Rapporteur: Emil Radev (PPE) PR – PE660.171v01-00 Responsible: JURI Adoption of draft recommendation for second reading In camera 7.
    [Show full text]
  • European Parliament Elections 2019 - Forecast
    Briefing May 2019 European Parliament Elections 2019 - Forecast Austria – 18 MEPs Staff lead: Nick Dornheim PARTIES (EP group) Freedom Party of Austria The Greens – The Green Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) (EPP) Social Democratic Party of Austria NEOS – The New (FPÖ) (Salvini’s Alliance) – Alternative (Greens/EFA) – 6 seats (SPÖ) (S&D) - 5 seats Austria (ALDE) 1 seat 5 seats 1 seat 1. Othmar Karas* Andreas Schieder Harald Vilimsky* Werner Kogler Claudia Gamon 2. Karoline Edtstadler Evelyn Regner* Georg Mayer* Sarah Wiener Karin Feldinger 3. Angelika Winzig Günther Sidl Petra Steger Monika Vana* Stefan Windberger 4. Simone Schmiedtbauer Bettina Vollath Roman Haider Thomas Waitz* Stefan Zotti 5. Lukas Mandl* Hannes Heide Vesna Schuster Olga Voglauer Nini Tsiklauri 6. Wolfram Pirchner Julia Elisabeth Herr Elisabeth Dieringer-Granza Thomas Schobesberger Johannes Margreiter 7. Christian Sagartz Christian Alexander Dax Josef Graf Teresa Reiter 8. Barbara Thaler Stefanie Mösl Maximilian Kurz Isak Schneider 9. Christian Zoll Luca Peter Marco Kaiser Andrea Kerbleder Peter Berry 10. Claudia Wolf-Schöffmann Theresa Muigg Karin Berger Julia Reichenhauser NB 1: Only the parties reaching the 4% electoral threshold are mentioned in the table. Likely to be elected Unlikely to be elected or *: Incumbent Member of the NB 2: 18 seats are allocated to Austria, same as in the previous election. and/or take seat to take seat, if elected European Parliament ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• www.eurocommerce.eu Belgium – 21 MEPs Staff lead: Stefania Moise PARTIES (EP group) DUTCH SPEAKING CONSITUENCY FRENCH SPEAKING CONSITUENCY GERMAN SPEAKING CONSTITUENCY 1. Geert Bourgeois 1. Paul Magnette 1. Pascal Arimont* 2. Assita Kanko 2. Maria Arena* 2.
    [Show full text]
  • La Sorbonne: Host of the 2018 European Reformists Summit
    SOMMET DES réformistes européens European Reformists SUMMIT 2019 the democratic challenge in Europe 16 & 17 November 2018 – Draft programme European Reformists SUMMIT The European Reformists Summit entitled “2019, the Democratic Challenge in Europe“ will be held on the 16th & 17th of November 2018. This event is co-organised by the progressive think tanks Les Gracques, Terra Nova, Mouvement Européen France, Fondation pour l’innovation politique and Fondation Jean-Jaurès, in partnership with several European think tanks. It aims at gathering high-ranking international leaders in order to discuss the most pressing political, economic and social issues ahead of the crucial European elections. The Summit builds on the European Reformists Summit held in Lyon in 2016 and hosted by its Mayor, Gérard Collomb. Just after Brexit and at the dawn of several electoral challenges all over Europe, we were convinced of the urgent need to make all pro-European reformists of good will stick together. Two years later, after a gathering in Berlin last year, as fragmentation risks remain and populism keeps on rising, it is high time to gather around a European Reformists Summit in Paris in preparation for the coming European elections. French and international political leaders, mayors of major cities, representatives of unions and civil society, economists and business leaders will meet to debate in private sessions. The results of the discussions will be presented to the media and the public during the conclusive part of the event, on Saturday 17 November afternoon. Our partners all around Europe have already assured us of their support to help us get the best out of this event in terms of original ideas, propositions and commitments.
    [Show full text]
  • 12 Enabling Patient Mobility in the EU: Between Free Movement and Coordination Willy Palm and Irene A
    12 Enabling patient mobility in the EU: between free movement and coordination Willy Palm and Irene A. Glinos 1. Introduction Free movement of patients – or patient mobility, as it is commonly referred to – implies people accessing health care services outside their home state. 1 Although health care normally is delivered close to where people live, in some instances the need for medical care arises while away from home or patients decide to seek care elsewhere. Patients’ readiness to travel for care, especially across borders, 2 is determined by a mix of factors linked to the specifi c situation of the patient, to the specifi c medical needs and to availability of care at home and abroad. Motivations for travelling abroad for care vary from the search for more timely, better quality or more affordable health care to treat- ment responding better to the patient’s wants or needs – including when care is inexistent or even prohibited at home. 3 While citizens in the EU, in principle, are free to seek health care wherever they want and from whatever provider available, in practice this freedom is limited by their ability to pay for it or by the condi- tions set out by public and private funding systems for health care. Traditionally, countries have confi ned statutory cover for health care delivered to their population to providers established in their territory. 4 Whereas initially, bilateral conventions derogated from this territoriality 1 By ‘home’ state or country, we mean the country of residence, which is usually also the country where the patient is affi liated to the social security system.
    [Show full text]
  • European Commission
    COMMISSION EUROPEENNE Bruxelles, le 12 septembre 2014 CALENDRIER du 15 au 21 septembre 2014 (Susceptible de modifications en cours de semaine) Déplacements et visites Lundi 15 septembre European Parliament plenary session (15-18/9) Mr José Manuel Durão BARROSO receives Mr Beinigno AQUINO III, President of the Philippines Mr Siim KALLAS receives Mr Román ESCOLANO, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank Mr Jyrki KATAINEN in Portugal: meets with Mr Pedro PASSOS COELHO, Prime Minister of Portugal; speech on “European Banking Union in the making" at the Bank of Portugal Mr Andris PIEBALGS and Ms Kristalina GEORGIEVA participate in the High level EU coordination meeting "A European wide response to the Ebola epidemic" Ms Androulla VASSILIOU visits Cyprus: meets Mr Costas KADIS, Minister of Education and Culture; opens of the Centre of Visual Arts and Research, Nicosia Mr Algirdas ŠEMETA in Vilnius: delivers a keynote speech at the Investors Forum "Europe‘s Competitiveness Recipe" Mr Johannes HAHN in Vienna: gives a key note speech at the conference organized by the Austrian Chamber of Economy: "EU structural funds in the period 2014-2020" with the participation of Mr Reinhold MITTERLEHNER, Minister of Economy Ms Connie HEDEGAARD in Copenhagen (Denmark): intervention at the Conference on Green Mobility in the future Mr László ANDOR delivers key note speech at the session "Integration of People with an Intellectual Disability - Policy-making perspective" at the Scientific Symposium of the 2014 Special Olympics European Summer Games (Antwerp)
    [Show full text]
  • COUNCIL for the FUTURE of EUROPE Presented by the In
    COUNCIL for the FUTURE of EUROPE FISCAL DISCIPLINE AND PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN EUROPE Presented by the Council for the Future of Europe in cooperation with the Friends of Europe The Hotel, Boulevard de Waterloo 38, Brussels 10 December 2014 (2.30pm - 5.00pm) 13:00 Lunch for Speakers and Guests Location: Private Salon 26th Floor Speaker: Heinz Wismann 14:30 Seminar: Fiscal Discipline and Public Investment Location: Park Ballroom, 1st Floor, The Hotel Welcome remarks: Viscount Etienne Davignon, President Friends of Europe Introduction: Fiscal Discipline and Public Investment Mario Monti, Chairman CFE The perspectives of the IMF and the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, President, European Commission The perspectives of Member States Pier Carlo Padoan, Minister of Economy and Finance, Italy, President of Ecofin Council Jörg Asmussen, State Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Germany Mateusz Szczurek, Minister of Finance, Poland Panel Discussion Benoit Coeuré, Executive Board, European CentralBank Marcel Fratzscher, President DIW, Berlin Guy Verhofstadt, President, ALDE Group, European Parliament Debate with the guests Moderator: Paul Taylor, Reuters Conclusion: Sylvie Goulard, EU Representative and Senior Advisor for the Council of the Future of Europe 17:00 Adjourn Fiscal Discipline and Public Investment in Europe policy workshop Brussels, Wednesday 10th December 2014 Discussion Summary On December 10, 2014, the Council for the Future of Europe of the Berggruen Institute and the Friends of Europe, collaborated to organize a seminar on the topic of Fiscal Discipline and Investment. The seminar included many leaders and important stakeholders including Jörg Asmussen, State Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Germany, Mateusz Szczurek, Minister of Finance, Poland, Benoit Coeuré, Executive Board, European CentralBank and Marcel Fratzscher, President DIW, Berlin among many others.
    [Show full text]
  • Brussels Think Tank Dialogue – State of the Union 2014
    BRUSSELS THINK TANK DIALOGUE – STATE OF THE UNION 2014 THE EU’S NEW LEADERS: KEY POST-ELECTION CHALLENGES List of Registrations Date: Tuesday, 28 January 2014, 10.00 – 17.30 (followed by a reception) Venue: Résidence Palace (Polak Room), Rue de la Loi 155, 1040 Brussels Aavatsmark Paal I. M. Counsellor, Mission of Norway to the EU, Brussels Abbott Charles Policy Assistant, Scotland Europa, Brussels Abdo Amr Master Student, Free University of Brussels Aelen Dirk Assistant to Ambassador Nkosi, Embassy of South Africa to Belgium, Brussels Ahäuser Farina Assistant, International Crisis Group, Brussels Ahmad Nurriha First Secretary, Mission of Malaysia to the EU, Brussels Ahtonen Annika Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre (EPC), Brussels Akaba Ahmet Student, Brussels Allen James Senior Policy Adviser, Confederation of British Industry, Brussels Alne Sture Technical Officer, World Health Organization (WHO), Brussels Ambos Kristina Intern, Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the EU, Brussels Ambrusics Agnes Intern, Permanent Representation of Hungary to the EU, Brussels Anechitei Bianca Programme Assistant, European Foundation for Democracy, Brussels Angar Oyun Third Secretary, Embassy of Mongolia to Belgium, Brussels Appel Claus-Peter Deputy Director, Representation of the State of Hessen to the EU, Brussels Arbilla Jose Maria Head Economic Sector, Embassy of Argentina to Belgium, Brussels Ariz Leire Media Officer, Bruegel, Brussels Arndt Tobias Chief Operating Officer / EU Representative, European Dysmelia Reference Information
    [Show full text]
  • Emmanuel Macron: Domestic Policy with the Emphasis on Labor Reform
    Emmanuel Macron: Domestic Policy with the Emphasis on Labor Reform POLICY PAPER / NOVEMBER 2017 CHRISTOPHER DOWNS Edited by MICHAEL ERIC LAMBERT Emmanuel Macron: Domestic Politics with the Emphasis on Labor Reform Policy Paper – Christopher Downs, November 2017 Emmanuel Macron, since the time of celebration of Bastille Day may serve as Napoléon Ier, is the youngest head of the a prime example of said efforts. This is due French government. Winning a decisive to the fact that Macron, during the visit, victory in May 2017, he defeated the tried to pose as a peace broker between the populist far-right candidate Marine Le Pen US president and his European critics; with a 66 % of the electoral vote. However, however, to what extent it was successful is the voter turnout was a mere 74 %, the yet to be seen. lowest since 1969. Moreover, the president’s counterpart won over 11 million Even though Macron’s foreign policies tend votes, which is a considerable amount. The to “bear fruit”, his approval ratings have very fact that Le Pen did so well in the plummeted starting August 2017 showing presidential elections is a sobering less support from the French and especially statement about the state of affairs in the from his own supporters. Thus, the country. question of why Macron’s approval ratings are dropping so fast will be the focus of the Therefore, Macron has a difficult task in analyses. Furthermore, the domestic issues front of him to prove that he is the leader and policies may be attributed to the which France deserves.
    [Show full text]
  • Policy Choices for a Digital Age
    JUNE 2017 POLICY CHOICES FOR A DIGITAL AGE TAKING A WHOLE ECONOMY, WHOLE SOCIETY APPROACH DISCUSSION PAPER This publication is part of Friends of Europe’s work on digitalisation and the 4th Industrial Revolution, undertaken in the framework of our New Economic Models programme. It brings together the views of Friends of Europe’s large network of policymakers, scholars, civil society and business representatives on digitalisation and the 4th Industrial Revolution. It closes a series of three high-level working group meetings that Friends of Europe organised in 2016 – 2017 to explore the impact of the 4th Industrial Revolution across policymaking, industry and society. JUNE 2017 POLICY CHOICES FOR A DIGITAL AGE TAKING A WHOLE ECONOMY, WHOLE SOCIETY APPROACH DISCUSSION PAPER The authors in this discussion paper contribute in their personal capacities, and their views do not necessarily reflect those of the organisations they represent, nor of Friends of Europe and its board of trustees, members or partners. Reproduction in whole or in part is permitted, provided that full credit is given to Friends of Europe, and that any such reproduction, whether in whole or in part, is not sold unless incorporated in other works. Friends of Europe is grateful for the financial support it received from Google and the input of the McKinsey Global Institute for the publication of this paper. Friends of Europe was responsible for guaranteeing editorial balance and full independence, as evidenced by the variety of the articles’ authors and the contents of the contributions. Publisher: Geert Cami Directors: Nathalie Furrer & Dharmendra Kanani Editor: David O’Leary Programme Manager: Natasha Ibbotson Design: José Gonçalves Communications Assistants: Carys Lawrie & Iiris André © Friends of Europe - June 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD Andrus Ansip 8 OVERVIEW Dharmendra Kanani 11 PART 1: RETHINKING ECONOMIC MODELS – GDP OR DATA 16 Moving beyond the balance-sheet economy Michael Mandel 17 Transatlantic cooperation and collaboration on the digital economy Daniel A.
    [Show full text]
  • Celebrate Innovation
    Copyright © eit digital 2020. all rights reserved Design: Studio Eyal & Myrthe ISBN/EAN: 978-90-9033712-8 CELEBRATE INNOVATION EIT Digital 2010–2020 EIT Digital IVZW www.eitdigital.eu Rue Guimard 7 | 1040 Brussels, Belgium Preface This book tells the story of how EIT Digital over the past decade became the largest digital innovation ecosystem in Europe, delivering on digital entrepreneurship, innovations, talents and skills. Launched in 2010 as one of the first wave EIT KICs (Knowledge and Innovation Communities), the community set out on a journey of growth. Growth in terms of the community itself, growth in terms of delivery on innovation, entrepreneurship, and talent, and finally growth in terms of impact through its thought leadership. EIT Digital matured against the background of a fast-accelerating digital world and a growing focus on entrepreneurship in Europe. Complementing the strong European research base, this entrepreneurial mindset will strengthen Europe’s position in a digital world driven by data, platforms, and the network economy. Creating a Strong Digital Europe will safeguard European values by being inclusive, fair, and sustainable. The book consists of three parts. Starting with describing the trends of the first decade of this century that preceded the creation of EIT Digital. It follows describing the journey of EIT Digital in the second decade against the background of the fast-developing digital world. The final part is an outlook to the third decade, identifying the main trends and outlining the envisaged further development of EIT Digital. Section page 2000–2010: The age of neTworks 6 2010–2020: The age of plaTforms 32 Beyond 2020: The age of miniaTurisaTion 84 2000–2010 The road to EIT Digital The origin of EIT Digital finds its roots in Harvard professor Clayton Christensen’s theory of innovation.
    [Show full text]