Author profile

Sonja Hennen

Sonja Hennen is a Policy Advisor for European Transformation Policy at the German Trade Union Confederation. Her work focuses on EU cohesion and structural policy, including regional development and investment strategies, as well as just transition policies to support workers and regions affected by climate and industrial transformation.

Euro symbol with rising arrow and economic icons.

Europe’s €2 Trillion Budget Buys Less Investment, Not More

Sonja Hennen and Dominika Biegon

Once NextGenerationEU expires, the EU’s real fiscal capacity falls, leaving a €300 billion annual investment gap.

Europe’s Budget Gamble: Why Cutting Cohesion Funds Will Backfire

Sonja Hennen and Dominika Biegon

The EU’s proposed long-term budget sacrifices the very regional investment and social resilience that underpin competitiveness.