World mass media about the new strategy of economic development and increasing the competitiveness of the European Union
On September 9, the former head of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, presented the strategy for the development of the European Union’s economy, developed on behalf of the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. According to the report, in order for the European Union to be able to withstand competition from the USA and China, it is necessary to focus on innovation, eliminate bureaucratic obstacles, and make investments – both private and public.
The European press shares its impressions
Sydsvenskan – Sweden. Sydsvenskan, published in Malmö, Sweden, explains why the EU must act urgently:
“The scale of the challenge is enormous. Since 2000, real wage growth in the US has been twice as high as in the European Union. The difference in GDP between the US and the EU has increased from 15 percent in 2002 to 30 percent in 2023, largely due to low Of the world’s leading technology companies, only four are located in Europe. to provide the proper dynamics”.
Financial Times – Great Britain. The Financial Times of London urges not to delay the implementation of such important proposals:
“This includes the unification of capital markets through the centralization of market supervision, the creation of new joint funding ‘cups’, as well as the standardization and optimization of prescriptions and regulation in the field of industry, competition and trade. Also welcome is the broader desire to deepen cooperation in the field of energy, innovation and national security. Draghi’s recommendations give the newly elected President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who commissioned this report, a valuable basis for action in the new term.”
La Stampa – Italy. Draghi is right in his call, economist and former senator Tommaso Nannicini notes in his article for Turin’s La Stampa:
“The only way to regain control is not to be locked in national borders and not to become slaves to decisions made elsewhere. from Washington to Beijing, but to build Europe’s independence on the basis of certain strategic directions. This is the brief essence of Draghi’s report. From factors, that contributed to European growth – from the expansion of international trade to the geopolitical stability guaranteed by the Pax Americana – are now gone. The growth game is now unfolding in a completely different place.”
Les Echos – France. Finally, an important problem has been openly marked – the Parisian Les Echos does not hide its joy:
“Mario Draghi, who in 2012 became famous for his famous ‘no matter what’ phrase when it came to saving the euro, is now resorting to the same means: a new stimulus program. However, the European Court of Auditors recently published data, according to by the end of 2023, EU countries have used less than a third of the funds provided for in the previous program. The report also emphasizes that innovation is hindered at every stage “.
The Irish Times – Ireland. European capitals will resist! – predicts Dublin’s The Irish Times:
“To spur investment, Draghi is calling for joint financing of the EU’s new debt instrument, a proposal that is sure to anger some European states. He also advocates making the EU more flexible and agile, which in turn means not not only a significant reduction in bureaucracy, but also the abolition of the national veto on the adoption of new laws in various areas. And this will be a very unpleasant issue for countries like Ireland, which has long defended the independence of its tax policy.”
People’s newspaper – Чехия. Prague’s Lidové noviny does not hide its skepticism:
“The probability of implementing this plan is very low. And this is despite the fact that the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has stated that she intends to use Draga’s proposals as a basis for the work of her team. Rather, we can bet that only some of the proposals Draghi will be implemented, and the decline in Europe will continue. Until the Europeans understand that they need to do something, the illusion will prevail that the European consensus can be saved by putting problems in the long box – as Draghi aptly put it, this is an easy way to hell, and we are happy we walk on it.”
