Commentary
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Recent commentary
German pension reform push crystallises challenges faced by many European countries
The burden of pension reform should be shared across generations, even if it is politically difficult
Xi’s visit underlines the hard choices the European Union faces on China
The EU cannot separate policy on China from its goals of containing Russia and ensuring economic security
The dual objective of China's competition quest: mitigating structural deceleration and great power rivalry
Should Europe put extra tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles?
Commentary items
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Opinion piece
14 June 2022
Ukraine and what it means for European Union enlargement
The real issue for EU leaders when they discuss Ukraine’s application at a 23-24 June summit and beyond, is what kind of club the EU should be.
Maria Demertzis
Opinion piece
25 May 2022
Xi, Biden switching strategies for dominance
The US now sees Asia more through an economic lens, while China shifts toward a security focus
Alicia García-Herrero
Opinion piece
31 May 2022
Three headaches for the European Central Bank
Once again, the limits of EMU architecture are visible and will require a rethink.
Maria Demertzis
Opinion piece
30 May 2022
Ukraine needs external financial assistance now
Planning Ukraine’s reconstruction tomorrow is important but meeting its financial needs today is more pressing and requires urgent action.
Arancha González Laya, Gabriel Felbermayr, Moritz Schularick, Shahin Vallée and Guntram B. Wolff
Opinion piece
17 May 2022
Buy now, pay later: the age of digital credit
A relatively new fintech market, BNPL is currently not regulated in the EU, meaning that consumers do not have the same protection level as they do fo
Maria Demertzis
Opinion piece
09 May 2022
For Europe, an oil embargo is not the way to go
Even at this late hour, the European Union should consider taking a different path.
Georg Zachmann, Guntram B. Wolff and Simone Tagliapietra
Opinion piece
02 May 2022
A tariff on imports of fossil fuel from Russia
A tariff on imports of Russian fossil fuels would allow Europe to hit Russia's energy sector without great suffering.
Georg Zachmann and Guntram B. Wolff
Opinion piece
02 May 2022
A phase out of Russian oil may be less effective than a tariff at reducing Putin’s rents
A punitive tariff on all energy imports from Russia would be a better choice than a gradually phased-in embargo on selected fuels.
Georg Zachmann, Guntram B. Wolff and Simone Tagliapietra
Opinion piece
29 April 2022
EU risks letting Putin’s gas divide-and-rule strategy win
The 2 May meeting of EU energy ministers should deliver strong and common EU action. Failing to do so would undermine Europe’s unity, energy security
Georg Zachmann, Agata Łoskot-Strachota and Simone Tagliapietra
Opinion piece
29 April 2022
Europe must get serious about cutting oil and gas use
As energy security risks increase, European governments must stop subsidising oil and gas, and ask people to consume less.
Simone Tagliapietra
Opinion piece
26 April 2022
Repurposing the peace dividend
The war in Ukraine has brought an end to a 60-year period in which Europe has enjoyed a peace dividend, an amount released by reducing defence expendi
Maria Demertzis
Opinion piece
26 April 2022
China’s Covid policy to be year’s largest economic shock
Beijing’s ‘dynamic zero-Covid’ policy could devastate the domestic economy, but the effects will also be felt globally.
Alicia García-Herrero
Opinion piece
11 April 2022
Cutting Putin’s energy rent: ‘smart sanctioning’ Russian oil and gas
Three ways Europe could limit Russian oil and gas revenues.
Guntram B. Wolff, Simone Tagliapietra and Axel Ockenfels
Opinion piece
05 April 2022
The EU without Russian oil and gas
The EU and the West need to acknowledge and accept the fact that European liberal democracy is being defended in Ukraine – a clearer message to Putin
Guntram B. Wolff
Opinion piece
05 April 2022
War on Ukraine: the day after
The international community will have to restart the long process of de-escalation in order to preserve peace. We have a long climb ahead.
Maria Demertzis
Opinion piece
01 April 2022
Early Warning Brief: China’s contorted response to Russia sanctions
The spectre of a democratic Russia aligned with the West is probably a more serious concern for Beijing than what it risks losing by supporting Russia
Alicia García-Herrero