The Consumer Choice Center recently welcomed our Director, Adam Bartha, to discuss the sixth round of economic sanctions on Russia. The discussion revolved around Hungary’s role in delaying the sanctions, addressing the (dis)unity of European foreign policy and the role of the EU in pursuing foreign policy objectives.

Recently, the Greek news outlet ‘Liberal’ featured the work of KEFiM, an EPICENTER member think tank. The study, which explored the cost-of-living crisis, revealed how taxes and regulations contribute to higher prices for consumers. In their coverage of the report, ‘Liberal’ provided an overview of the key arguments and spoke with Alexandros Skouras, President of KEFiM.

While the US has made promises to supply more natural gas to Europe, questions have been raised regarding the US’s long-term capacity for such an arrangement. Despite searching for alternatives to Russian energy supplies, the energy crisis is already well underway. All options from fracking to nuclear power should be on the table going forward.

The LFMI’s recent brief entitled “Digital Market Act: Competition, Private Property, Innovation and the Interests of the Users’’ covers all of the complex issues brought about by this new proposed legislation. In drafting this act, the realities of innovation in technology are forgotten and political discourse instead takes the focus. Several key misunderstandings set out to hurt both consumers and businesses.

Discussing Irene Montero’s recent large spending plan to accommodate inequality in Spain, Adam Bartha weighs in on solutions. Bartha affirms that empty political taglines and more large fiscal plans do not lead to real equality driven policy. Instead, real feminist policy originates from freer market conditions.

Adam Bartha discusses the evolving Ukraine invasion and Russian sanctions. Bartha covers the potential effects on Russian leadership, what a Post – Putin Russia might constitute and steps that EU leaders should take to achieve an ideal outcome in Ukraine.

European legislators venture to tackle big tech with the new Digital Markets Act provision. The European Parliament’s diversion from the original text on interoperability raises many issues. The potential detrimental changes to digital security for consumers are alarming.

Cécile Philippe, President of the IEM, was interviewed on domestic French taxation issues to discussions on what role the EU plays in the French economy. In terms of EU policy, Philippe asserts that the French government erroneously focuses on issues such as digital taxation, which is counterproductive.

The single charger proposals speak to a deeper issue with the EU’s mindset. This is superfluous intervention, built on spurious grounds, that will only serve to discourage innovation and make life harder for companies and consumers. It is precisely this type of activity that makes Europe a less hospitable place for entrepreneurs.