EU vows single market completion
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EU leaders at an informal summit in Alden Biesen, Belgium, pledged a roadmap to boost competitiveness and complete the single market by 2027, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz rejected eurobonds.
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This framing of 'the EU has never done multiple speed Europe' seems like a product of way too short institutional memory.
Since the 1980s, major EU integration often happened in avantgarde groups, be it the Euro, Schengen, EU Patent, EU Public Prosecutor. The real change is a different one.
Since the 1980s, major EU integration often happened in avantgarde groups, be it the Euro, Schengen, EU Patent, EU Public Prosecutor. The real change is a different one.
The EU has always prided itself on its members all moving forward as one. That era is over.
After years of resistance, leaders finally say EU should go at different speeds
Summit in Belgian castle sees governments acknowledge Europe urgently needs to change the way it functions if it’s not going to be left behind.
www.politico.eu
February 13, 2026 at 8:36 AM
This framing of 'the EU has never done multiple speed Europe' seems like a product of way too short institutional memory.
Since the 1980s, major EU integration often happened in avantgarde groups, be it the Euro, Schengen, EU Patent, EU Public Prosecutor. The real change is a different one.
Since the 1980s, major EU integration often happened in avantgarde groups, be it the Euro, Schengen, EU Patent, EU Public Prosecutor. The real change is a different one.
1/7
My latest piece was written especially for friends who are EU policymakers or advisors. In it I argue that there is a difference between an inefficient manufacturing sector and a globally uncompetitive manufacturing sector. We shouldn't conflate the two.
engelsbergideas.com/notebook/eur...
My latest piece was written especially for friends who are EU policymakers or advisors. In it I argue that there is a difference between an inefficient manufacturing sector and a globally uncompetitive manufacturing sector. We shouldn't conflate the two.
engelsbergideas.com/notebook/eur...
Europe's wage paradox
European leaders should find inspiration in Keynes' insight – that the world becomes richer when economies raise productivity and allow wages to keep pace.
engelsbergideas.com
February 13, 2026 at 8:18 AM
1/7
My latest piece was written especially for friends who are EU policymakers or advisors. In it I argue that there is a difference between an inefficient manufacturing sector and a globally uncompetitive manufacturing sector. We shouldn't conflate the two.
engelsbergideas.com/notebook/eur...
My latest piece was written especially for friends who are EU policymakers or advisors. In it I argue that there is a difference between an inefficient manufacturing sector and a globally uncompetitive manufacturing sector. We shouldn't conflate the two.
engelsbergideas.com/notebook/eur...
Views for @scmpnews.bsky.social: The #EU is experiencing a severe and accelerating #China shock and must move quickly to limit the damage.
www.scmp.com/news/china/d...
www.scmp.com/news/china/d...
EU seeks independence, survival amid China-US economic dominance
European leaders meet to address the bloc’s economic woes, reliance on China and US, and shielding key industries from protectionist policies.
www.scmp.com
February 13, 2026 at 1:57 AM
Views for @scmpnews.bsky.social: The #EU is experiencing a severe and accelerating #China shock and must move quickly to limit the damage.
www.scmp.com/news/china/d...
www.scmp.com/news/china/d...
3/7
Global competitiveness, by contrast, depends largely on how income is distributed within an economy.
This leaves the EU with two options if it wants to prevent domestic deindustrialization.
Global competitiveness, by contrast, depends largely on how income is distributed within an economy.
This leaves the EU with two options if it wants to prevent domestic deindustrialization.
February 13, 2026 at 8:18 AM
3/7
Global competitiveness, by contrast, depends largely on how income is distributed within an economy.
This leaves the EU with two options if it wants to prevent domestic deindustrialization.
Global competitiveness, by contrast, depends largely on how income is distributed within an economy.
This leaves the EU with two options if it wants to prevent domestic deindustrialization.
'One Europe, one market' ... completing the common market, the internal market and the single market #AldenBiesen #EUCO ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Statement by President von der Leyen with President Costa following the informal EU leaders\' retreat
One Europe, One Market. This was indeed the headline of the discussion, and this is our ambition. One Europe, One Market. We want to be there at the end of 2027. We had an excellent discussion with th
ec.europa.eu
February 13, 2026 at 7:38 AM
'One Europe, one market' ... completing the common market, the internal market and the single market #AldenBiesen #EUCO ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Looking back just a bit longer, the height of 'multiple speed Europe' was between 2010-2015 during the Eurozone crisis, when much of the Euro-related instruments were developed around the Euro countries, e.g. ESM, Fiscal Compact, Euro Plus Pact etc.
France in particular has long pushed the idea.
France in particular has long pushed the idea.
February 13, 2026 at 8:36 AM
Looking back just a bit longer, the height of 'multiple speed Europe' was between 2010-2015 during the Eurozone crisis, when much of the Euro-related instruments were developed around the Euro countries, e.g. ESM, Fiscal Compact, Euro Plus Pact etc.
France in particular has long pushed the idea.
France in particular has long pushed the idea.
…und abgestimmtes europäisches Handeln.
Daher: Uneinheitliche Regeln im EU-Binnenmarkt abschaffen · Podcast in der ARD Audiothek:
www.ardaudiothek.de/episode/urn:...
Daher: Uneinheitliche Regeln im EU-Binnenmarkt abschaffen · Podcast in der ARD Audiothek:
www.ardaudiothek.de/episode/urn:...
Podcast: Schnitzer: Uneinheitliche Regeln im EU-Binnenmarkt abschaffen
Bei einem informellen Gipfel beraten die Staats- und Regierungschefs der EU-Mitgliedsländer über die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit. Die Wirtschaftsweise Monika Schnitzer sagt, der Handel innerhalb der EU müsse...
www.ardaudiothek.de
February 13, 2026 at 8:45 AM
…und abgestimmtes europäisches Handeln.
Daher: Uneinheitliche Regeln im EU-Binnenmarkt abschaffen · Podcast in der ARD Audiothek:
www.ardaudiothek.de/episode/urn:...
Daher: Uneinheitliche Regeln im EU-Binnenmarkt abschaffen · Podcast in der ARD Audiothek:
www.ardaudiothek.de/episode/urn:...
4/7
It can cut wages and social welfare benefits sharply to reduce EU wages relative to EU productivity. This will increase the competitiveness of the EU manufacturing sector, but it will do so not only at the expense of EU workers but also of global growth.
It can cut wages and social welfare benefits sharply to reduce EU wages relative to EU productivity. This will increase the competitiveness of the EU manufacturing sector, but it will do so not only at the expense of EU workers but also of global growth.
February 13, 2026 at 8:18 AM
4/7
It can cut wages and social welfare benefits sharply to reduce EU wages relative to EU productivity. This will increase the competitiveness of the EU manufacturing sector, but it will do so not only at the expense of EU workers but also of global growth.
It can cut wages and social welfare benefits sharply to reduce EU wages relative to EU productivity. This will increase the competitiveness of the EU manufacturing sector, but it will do so not only at the expense of EU workers but also of global growth.
Merz, on the other hand, has an impatience for EU process and has also been influenced by the Schäuble Lamers Paper for Core Europe (from the 1990s!). Merz has thus shifted Germany towards coalitions in and outside the EU, with far more openess towards multiple speed Europe.
February 13, 2026 at 8:36 AM
Merz, on the other hand, has an impatience for EU process and has also been influenced by the Schäuble Lamers Paper for Core Europe (from the 1990s!). Merz has thus shifted Germany towards coalitions in and outside the EU, with far more openess towards multiple speed Europe.
The last big shift happened in 2016 - with Brexit. One of Merkel's conclusions back then was that pushing the Brits to the margins during the Eurozone crisis had been a mistake, and that the main aim should be to integrate all 27 EU countries together. Since then Germany pushed the unity mantra.
February 13, 2026 at 8:36 AM
The last big shift happened in 2016 - with Brexit. One of Merkel's conclusions back then was that pushing the Brits to the margins during the Eurozone crisis had been a mistake, and that the main aim should be to integrate all 27 EU countries together. Since then Germany pushed the unity mantra.
by Martin McKee
🧵1/ As the 2026 Munich Security Conference opens today, Jon Cylus & I ask, in a new paper @lancetrh-europe.bsky.social ,how the 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy reshapes not only geopolitics but Europe’s health and welfare systems.
February 13, 2026 at 5:12 AM
🧵1/ As the 2026 Munich Security Conference opens today, Jon Cylus & I ask, in a new paper @lancetrh-europe.bsky.social ,how the 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy reshapes not only geopolitics but Europe’s health and welfare systems.