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Some opinions have been expressed that the sustainability issue has not been properly addressed in the Commission’s proposal. Given the EU’s efforts to increase its energy efficiency, the argument goes, the Commission risks overestimating gas demand.

Europe’s energy policy: Running out of fuel?

By: EBR | Friday, July 1, 2016

Energy security continues to top Europe’s agenda, as proved by the sustainable energy security package unveiled by the Commission in February. Although a step in the right direction, it falls short of ensuring true solidarity in case of supply disruptions, writes Zdzisław Krasnodębski

The same goes for Brexit. Rather than engage, convince and reform as he should have done, Mr Juncker did not take any initiative, to avoid antagonising Mr Cameron and British voters. Already slowed down, several dossiers were put on hold. The UK referendum should have been used as an excellent opportunity for debate about re-structuring the European Union around a two-circle system: the federally-minded Member States in the first circle, and a second circle for countries content with a trading relationship. Far from being a problem, the referendum campaign could have been a chance to re-define and re-organise the EU. Instead…

The day after the night before: Brexit!

By: EBR | Thursday, June 30, 2016

On issues big and small, the EU needs to re-build itself from top to bottom. 20 years ago I published “L’Europe à contresens”.

The EU remains Ukraine’s biggest export market and Ukraine is the largest exporter of wheat to the EU. But, according to recent data published by Eurostat, Ukrainian exports to the EU have fallen by seven per cent after the signing of the DCFTA.

EU quotas ’limiting’ Ukraine’s ability to realise its potential

By: EBR | Wednesday, June 22, 2016

EU quotas on Ukraine are "limiting" the country’s ability to realise its potential against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict with Russia

Failure to tackle tax dodging in earnest will be a devastating indictment of a political leadership unwilling to make changes that are within its reach.

Enough stalling on tax justice!

By: EBR | Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Last month’s ‘Panama Papers’ leaks are just the latest evidence of the legal or illegal, but always immoral, tax practices of multinationals, banks and the rich

The second element of the crisis concerns the rapid growth of commercial media at the expense of public media. In other words the embedding of a market logic in communications and the weakening of both public institutions and public accountability – the consequences of which I have written about recently in open Democracy.

Be the media, know the media, change the media

By: EBR | Wednesday, June 15, 2016

We need to think bigger if we are to achieve the sort of media that the public want and need

The areas of construction and industry, on the other hand, were close to the EU average (13 and 10 %, compared to 15 and 10% respectively). It is obvious that the SME sector in Greece varies considerably compared to the structure of the European and it is far more important for the country’s economy.

A long term policy needed for Greek SME’s

By: EBR | Friday, June 10, 2016

Although their mere existence does not automatically lead to growth, their development becomes even more important and almost imperative as a key instrument in poverty reduction efforts

The Region of North Aegean was the first to look for international support.

Migration and local economies: Actions to move forward

By: EBR | Wednesday, June 8, 2016

The North Aegean Region of Greece served as first reception center for over 80% of the refugees that entered Europe through Greece. The numbers are shocking: in one year almost a million refugees passed via Lesvos

Not all economists felt positively about the movie, however. The Big Short has reignited debate concerning who is ultimately to blame for the financial crisis.

What “The Big Short” gets right—and wrong

By: EBR | Friday, June 3, 2016

For a Hollywood movie, “The Big Short” is surprisingly sophisticated about what caused the financial crisis, but it fumbles a few key issues

Other research suggests that many people are aware that their self-control problems can interfere with their health and fitness goals.

Make employees healthier for free

By: EBR | Wednesday, June 1, 2016

If firms offer commitment programmes to healthy behaviour, they can avoid costly incentive and subsidy schemes and improve health at little or no cost

Ukraine’s energy sector has been riddled with serious problems and characterised by many as one of the biggest sources of waste and corruption in the country.The escalation of Ukraine-Russia tensions in 2014 aggravated the energy situation as well as its economic recession.

Ukraine praised for ’huge’ reforms but MEP’s still have doubts

By: EBR | Monday, May 23, 2016

A senior MEP says it is necessary to "keep a constant eye" on the reform process in war-torn Ukraine

These banks believe that they have saved an incredible amount of money on security by removing the incentive for robberies. Instead of money, Swedes favor using cellphone applications and plastic cards. In 2015 alone, there were nearly 2.4 billion credit and debit transactions. In a slightly humorous turn, ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus, the man who wrote “Money, Money, Money,” has become a disciple of Sweden’s cash-free movement.

The end of cash money?

By: EBR | Friday, May 20, 2016

Two nations, Norway and Sweden, are making serious moves toward the abolition of paper-based money

Europe as a whole is not a democracy but it shares many democratic strengths and weaknesses. Free speech, freedom of assembly, and institutional checks and balances are at the top of both lists. The collapse of solidarity in Europe is threatening to break the union into pieces.

Democracy without Solidarity

By: EBR | Friday, April 22, 2016

“There will never be a good a solid constitution unless the law reigns over the hearts of the citizens; as long as the power of legislation is insufficient to accomplish this, laws will always be evaded“ Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1772)

There is no doubt that both Greece and its European partners will face politically difficult decisions in the coming months to arrive at a program that is viable—one that adds up.

Greece: Toward a workable program

By: EBR | Friday, February 12, 2016

Having successfully pulled Greece from the brink last summer and subsequently stabilized the economy, the government of Alexis Tsipras is now discussing with its European partners and the IMF a comprehensive multi-year program that can secure a lasting recovery and make debt sustainable

The questions now are: are both sides willing to continue these negotiations? Will the newly elected DPP President Tsai Ing-wen recognise the ‘1992 Consensus’: one China with respective interpretations?

After Taiwan elections: a cold wind blows over the Strait again

By: N. Peter Kramer | Thursday, February 11, 2016

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Ms Tsai Ing-wen secured a landslide victory on January 16, unseating the more China-friendly Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang, KMT) with 56% of the vote

In exercising these roles the Greek state has developed a powerful impulse towards self-enlargement and centralized planning. At the same time, it has acquired a tendency to consolidate its power through legislation and procedures that enable it to pursue the roles it has amassed without resistance but with great cost to society.

Education and mass media as springboards to development

By: EBR | Friday, January 22, 2016

Throughout the six years of the economic crisis, the political elite, the state apparatus and Greek society itself have shown a striking inability to come up with ideas and develop programs that could lead the country out of the crisis

Mr. Margaritis Schinas has developed a powerful communicational platform of significant influence that, if he wants to use, could prove to be a precious political assistance to Kyriakos Mitsotakis - and not only.

The newly-elected opposition leader in Greece and Europe

By: Athanase Papandropoulos | Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Mr. Margaritis Schinas, Spokesperson of the European Commission, could play an informal key-role as far as it concerns the relationship between the recently appointed New Democracy (ND) President, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and EC chief Jean-Claude Juncker

A prerequisite for the first review of Greece′s €86 billion bailout is the reform of country′s ailing pension system.

Greece set for major credit rating upgrade

By: EBR | Monday, January 11, 2016

In the event of a "positive" first review of Greece's third bailout programme, its struggling economy will be upgraded by rating agencies, a capital market specialist stated

Smoke is being sent by various political actors towards local and foreign eyes, each trying to look reasonable and blame other parties for any future failure of governmental talks.

Moldova: Smoke gets in your eyes

By: EBR | Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Moldova is in political disarray: the current pro-European parties involved in coalition talks are more preoccupied with doing crisis management and scape goating operations than they are actually committed to making a new governmental coalition work.

Impact Investing focuses on addressing major social and/or environmental challenges while generating financial returns. Impact Investing can be applied as a lens across an entire portfolio.

Investing for Impact: Capital Fusion for Social and Environmental Good

By: EBR | Tuesday, November 24, 2015

The global economy has reached a tipping point where emerging markets are no longer simply a rising force but are now taking center stage.

According to IHS, a US-based analytics firm, the annual revenues for ISIS raised from oil and gas trafficking overcome 1 billion US dollars per year in which we should add another 600 million gained by other criminal activities.

How ISIS is funded

By: Athanase Papandropoulos | Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Illicit oil trade, ransoms from abductions, drugs, archaeological treasures and trafficking are among the main “source of revenues” for the cruelest criminal organization in the world.

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EU Actually

Has the EU diplomatic service EEAS had its day?

By: N. Peter Kramer

In his weekly column, N. Peter Kramer writes about proposals for a radical overhaul of the EEAS and the power struggle between Ursula von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas.

Europe

European Security Strategy: In Search of a New Ambition

The EU is putting together a new security strategy to meet today’s myriad challenges. But for any proposal to be effective, the union needs to grapple with its identity and ambitions.

Business

Why the US economy keeps defying the odds

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