Media

The European Commission claims that the Digital Services Act (DSA) will deliver much-needed harmonisation and clarity of regulation. In fact, it introduces new risks and costs on businesses without adequate justification. If the European Commission aims to improve the competitiveness of Europe’s digital economy and to safeguard the interests of European consumers, its proposals must be significantly amended.

The ECB’s accounts have become the waste-bin for the financial garbage of the entire Eurozone. In this zero-sum game, there are winners and losers. At the moment, Northern European countries, Germany in particular, are losing. Looking at the legal structure of the new “Next Generation EU” scheme it becomes apparent that the “Eurobonds” that are about to be issued will be ultimately guaranteed by EU Member States, in proportion to the amounts they are about to receive.

A transatlantic tech partnership would spur collaborations between governments and companies to rebalance the rising Chinese tech industry. With optimal innovation policies, Chinese state-sponsored and state-affiliated tech companies may be held in check. We need a transatlantic tech partnership. Today, the EU proposal is not credible, even more so with the DMA.

It yet remains to be seen if the vaccine will deliver the promise of a return to normal life, with no new waves of infections. European policymakers should consider adapting a zero Covid strategy to help their economies and enable more social freedoms. IEM’s Director, Cecile Philippe, writes for Mace Magazine.

Overall, the best way of maximising freedom and helping to restart international travel in a way that does not damage public health is through a vaccine passport. Although the passports should be abandoned when the threat of COVID-19 is mitigated, in the short-run this presents an effective mechanism for allowing freedom of movement to return – and supporting industries reliant on tourism.

There is scepticism towards the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement’s effective capacity to truly level the playing field diplomatically. Critics have pointed out that while the deal includes measures for state-to-state dispute settlement, it fails to specify investor protection mechanisms in the face of litigation disputes which could leave EU investors in precarious situations.

Milano Post presents the main points of the new Index of Liberalisation, with the UK holding the first position and Italy the sixth position. Carlo Stagnaro also provides some comments, notably on the pandemic’s impacts on the future of liberalisation.

La Repubblica shows that Italy is among the most liberalised countries of Europe by referring to the Index of Liberalisation 2020. The article also presents the main points of the report by IBL and Epicenter.

The article summarises the main points of EPICENTER’s and Civismo’s analysis on the economic costs of a hypothetical independence of Catalonia.