Eurozone policy – a look ahead. With this guiding motto the Bertelsmann Stiftung and the Jacques Delors Institut – Berlin launched their new series “Europa briefings“ on 11 July at the Allianz Forum in Berlin. At an event called “EU to go”, a short and interactive format aimed at decisions-makers in the German capital, the team presented six recent publications. The briefings cover topics in European economic policy and answer the questions: What is the problem? What might happen next? And what can policy-makers do now?”
The “Europa briefing” series consists of ten poster-sized briefings that will be published throughout 2017. Each poster addresses a distinct policy area, ranging from low interest rates in the eurozone to the four freedoms governing the single market.
Henrik Enderlein introduced the topic and the roadmap ahead before addressing key strategic decisions that have to be made in the eurozone soon: Do we have to combine elements of risk-sharing and sovereignty-sharing? What role does the European Commission play in this context: a guardian of the treaties or a more political role? He also pointed to recent opinion polls: a large majority of Europeans continues to be in favour of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Yet, many citizens see the need for economic reforms.
Presenting the Europa briefing Banking Union Philipp Ständer raised the question which further steps are needed in order to complete the Banking Union. The second briefing, that was presented, focused on the EU budget. It remains a controversial topic and Jörg Haas outlined which proposals are on the table to render the budget more transparent and efficient.
Other issues explained and discussed in the Europa briefings are the ECB's low interest rate policy and convergence between the euro countries. The Europa briefing on whether there should be an exit option for the euro outlines different scenarios. The sixths publication covers the four freedoms, very often seen as the cornerstones of the single market.
So far, these six Europa briefings have been published in German, and they will also be available in English by the end of 2017. The briefings are part of the project "Repair and Prepare: Strengthen the Euro", a project by the Bertelsmann Stiftung and the Jacques Delors Institut - Berlin on the main challenges facing the EMU.
You will find more details and all the Europa briefings here: www.strengthentheeuro.eu
