European Commission

March 16, 2020

Is the European Commission to Blame for the Absence of European Champions?

Following the veto of the Alstom-Siemens merger, the European Commission has been criticised for preventing the creation of “European champions” of comparable size to those emerging from the United States in the digital field or China in the industrial field.
December 9, 2019

An Analysis of the Spitzenkandidaten Process – Part 1

The European Commission is meant to be the non-partisan, executive branch of the EU that consists of experts rather than politicians. However, the appointment of Commissioners is certainly a politicised process, so many argue for the democratisation of this procedure.
October 17, 2019

Predatory Pricing or Predatory Laws?

The European Commission has fined in July telecommunications multinational Qualcomm with €242 million as it condemns them for selling chipsets “below cost” and therefore espousing predatory pricing mechanisms with the intention of eliminating Icera, a competitor. In fact, between 2009 and 2011,
May 11, 2018

Doing More With Less: the Future of the Common Agricultural Policy Post-2020

On May 2 the European Commission released a Communication that outlined the Union’s overall budgetary plan for the 2021 – 2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), which included the proposal of a 5% funding cut to the Common Agricultural Policy.
August 31, 2017

A Response to EU Public Consultation on the Most Effective Methods in Formal and Informal Teaching and Learning

The European Commission sought public opinion on the importance of equipping young people with shared values and on how education and non-formal learning can help achieve this aim in view of creating more socially cohesive societies.