Spitzenkandidaten, transnational lists and more Brussels-bubble ideas
The Spitzenkandidaten system was meant to enhance the democratic legitimacy of the European Parliament. But that wasn’t why more citizens voted in May.
Wolfgang Kowalsky
The Next Crisis Will Be Worse Than The Financial One
Economists have been pretty silent over the summer. It has probably been too hot to come up with new ideas. Generally speaking, most of them
Business Takes All – Or Win-Win?
The new European Commission company mobility package is unbalanced. It aims at establishing European rules for business mobility in three areas: company conversions, mergers and divisions
Europe On The Move Again?
While Europe found itself in a new triangular relationship and holding more and more divergent views with the USA’s Trumpism on one side and Russia’s
The French Right Might Pave The Way For The Extreme Right: Sleepwalking Towards Frexit
The French ‘patronat’, the business lobby group aka Medef, had for a long time the reputation of being the most stupid in the world. Today,
Time To Turn The Page Of Platform Capitalism?
Tech giants like to be regarded as unicorns. Since the late 1300s, the unicorn has been the national animal of Scotland. Believed to be the
Twilight Of The Gods: The Globalisation Losers Hit Back
True believers in globalisation can be recognised by the following simple characteristic: They are convinced that it benefits all. This credo is being queried since
What A Wonderful New World: The Sharing Economy
The European Commission has just issued a communication on “A European agenda for the collaborative economy” (02.06.2016). The Commission considers this term ‘collaborative economy’ as
Scenarios For A Digital Europe
A lot of hype has built up around digitalisation, in some Member States as well as in Brussels. On one side, the over-enthusiastic camp bases
Is There A Future For Europe?
Brexit is marginal; the real danger for Europe lurking around the corner would be Frexit. Marine Le Pen’s Front National was stopped at the regional
The European Digital Agenda: Unambitious And Too Narrow
The first industrial revolution was based on the transition from manual production methods to machines and the use of steam power (from 1800), the second
Twelve Brussels Myths… And Why They Are Wrong
1. A more business friendly environment is needed. In reality, thanks to the manifold activities of the Barroso Commission and the “better regulation” agenda, the
Understanding The European Union’s Facade Democracy
It is quite amazing that the European Commission has never really addressed the question of European democracy. Neither a White Paper nor a Green Paper
Where Now For The Europe 2020 Strategy?
Does the Commission take unemployment as a serious challenge? What future for the Europe 2020 strategy? A few comments on European Commission: “Results of the
Do We Need A Single-Member Private Limited Liability Company (SUP)?
The European Commission has once again issued a legislative proposal which jeopardises workers’ rights. The proposal for a “single-member private limited liability company” (SUP in