Fittex
EU economic developments and projections
This briefing provides a summary of the recent economic developments in EU Member States and gives an overview of relevant economic projections forecasted by major EU and international institutions. Annex 1 includes the latest GDP data and forecasts for all EU Member States. Annex 2 provides the latest inflation data and developments.
How have European banks developed along different dimensions of international competitiveness?
The analysis explores the competitiveness of European banks compared to their US counterparts. It highlights structural differences between the two systems, particularly Europe’s reliance on traditional bank intermediation versus US’s market-based model. European banks generally lag in profitability and market valuations, but remain central to credit provision and financial inclusion across the EU. US banks have benefitted from more favourable macroeconomic scenarios. At the same time, recent improvements ...
Critical medicines act
In light of the current geopolitical situation, and in response to the growing issue of medicine shortages in the EU, on 11 March 2025 the European Commission put forward a proposal for a regulation on a critical medicines act. The proposed regulation seeks to strengthen the availability of critical medicines in the EU and the security of supply of these medicines by reducing the dependency on single suppliers and third countries and boosting pharmaceutical manufacturing in the EU. It also aims to ...
Discharge for 2023 budget: Other institutions
During its May plenary session, the European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ is scheduled to vote on the discharge for the implementation of the 2023 EU budget. The Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) recommends granting discharge for eight administrative sections, alongside the European Public Prosecutor's Office. It recommends postponing the decision on granting discharge to the European Council and the Council of the EU.
European water resilience strategy
Indispensable to life and human activity, water is under multiple and severe pressures. During its May session, the ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ is expected to adopt its recommendations on a strategy to address Europe's most pressing water challenges, which the European Commission has pledged to table in the second quarter of the year.
Democratic legitimacy of the GMO authorisation procedure
During ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾'s May 2025 plenary session, the Commission is to make a statement on democratic legitimacy, following its continuing authorisation of genetically modified crops despite ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾'s consistent objections.
A revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world
ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ is due to adopt its vision for the European Union's post-2027 long-term budget during the May plenary session. Ahead of the European Commission's proposal, expected in July, the report adopted by the Committee on Budgets insists that the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) must be significantly above 1 % of the EU's gross national income (GNI). The report rejects the 'one national plan per Member State' approach, as envisaged by the European Commission, as a basis for ...
Discharge for 2023 budget: European Commission
During the May I plenary session, the European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ is to decide on granting discharge for the 2023 financial year to the different EU institutions and bodies. Accounting for more than 95 % of the overall EU budget, the European Commission's budget is at the centre of the discharge procedure. The discharge of the Commission includes its six executive agencies and the grant component of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). Separate discharge is granted to the Commission concerning the ...
European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ diplomacy and the end of the Cold War: The integration of central and eastern European countries
ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ played a fundamental role in reshaping the political landscape of central and eastern Europe during and after the end of the Cold War, setting out an agenda for European enlargement and substantiating European integration. Amid an atmosphere that signalled the triumph of democratic state-building in Europe, Members of the European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ also saw an opportunity to advance their own agenda of further democratising and legitimising the governance structures of the European ...
US tariffs: economic, financial and monetary repercussions
This briefing assesses the economic, financial, and monetary implications of the tariffs announced by the Trump administration for the EU. Starting with an overview of US measures and EU countermeasures, it analyses the impact on the EU economy across sectors and member states, explains monetary policy challenges for the ECB, and discusses strategic options for European policymakers. As the situation evolves rapidly, the assessment provided in this briefing reflects information available as of 29 ...