2025 marks 50 years of official diplomatic relations between the European Union and China and the Chinese Mission organized this week in Brussels a large reception to celebrate and meet the European counterparts. The event coincided with the positive news that China lifted the 2021 sanctions against MEPs, an act of reciprocation on the EU’s […]50 year anniversary of China-EU relations: why the EU should care much more
May 9, 2025 by Leave a Comment
2025 marks 50 years of official diplomatic relations between the European Union and China and the Chinese Mission organized this week in Brussels a large reception to celebrate and meet the European counterparts. The event coincided with the positive news that China lifted the 2021 sanctions against MEPs, an act of reciprocation on the EU’s […]Commission consults on possible countermeasures and readies WTO litigation in response to US tariffs
May 8, 2025 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has launched a public consultation on a list of US imports which could become subject to EU countermeasures, if ongoing EU-US negotiations do not result in a mutually beneficial outcome and the removal of the US tariffs. The list put to […]The Hidden Strength of Government Inefficiency: Why Slow Systems Save Us
May 6, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Julie Cooper The Efficiency Trap Imagine stepping into a leadership role and feeling like you’ve walked into a swamp. Every step is measured. Every movement is resisted. Progress feels agonizing. Decisions crawl. Approvals get stuck in layers of bureaucracy. It’s frustrating—like trying to run through quicksand. If you’ve […]12 Member States request activation of the national escape clause in a coordinated move to boost defence spending
May 5, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. To date, 12 Member States have submitted a request in writing to the Commission to activate the national escape clause under the Stability and Growth Pact, as part of the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030 package presented in March 2025. These are Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, […]Afghanistan’s socioeconomic crisis deepens amid crackdown on women’s rights
May 2, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. In Afghanistan, 75 per cent of the population struggles to meet their daily needs; with female-headed households, rural communities and internally displaced persons being most affected, the UN development agency (UNDP) has noted in a new report. As the Afghan economy faces stalled local production and weak […]Stuck in the middle? Indebted nations plot path to growth amid global trade upheaval
April 30, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Faced with mounting debt and economic stagnation, middle-income countries have issued a call for financial reform, sustainable investment, and a roadmap to escape the so-called “middle-income trap,” at a UN-backed international conference held in Manila, Philippines, which concluded on Tuesday. The High-Level Conference of Middle-Income Countries (MICs), […]Where Budgets Meet Gender Equality: Insights from PEFA Data
April 29, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Gender inequality is a persistent challenge across countries, regardless of income level. Among various policy tools aimed at addressing these disparities, Gender Responsive Public Financial Management (GRPFM) has gained traction as a promising approach. GRPFM integrates gender considerations into budgetary processes, aiming to allocate public resources in ways […]As budgets shrink, UN Peacekeeping looks to the future
April 28, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. With just weeks to go before a key ministerial meeting in Berlin, the UN and Germany have reaffirmed their commitment to peacekeeping – a vital tool for global stability that must now adapt to dwindling resources. “This is a particularly timely meeting,” said Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General […]Largely eradicated diseases at risk of returning due to budget cuts
April 25, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Vaccines have saved around 150 million lives over the past 50 years, but that progress is now under threat. Cuts to global health funding are leading to a rise in outbreaks of diseases that vaccines had nearly wiped out, the UN health agency, WHO, is warning on […]Budgets Committee sets out priorities for next long-term EU budget
April 24, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs in the Budgets Committee have backed the first report outlining Parliament’s vision for the next long-term EU budget. In the report adopted on Wednesday by 23 votes in favour, 9 against and with 2 abstentions, MEPs emphasise the need for a significantly more […]EU budget set for defence-related boost under new regulation
April 23, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. New targeted amendments to existing EU funding programmes will support faster, more flexible and coordinated investments in Europe’s defence technological and industrial base (EDTIB). Under a new Regulation to stimulate defence-related investments within the EU budget proposed today by the Commission, the EU will […]Asia’s megacities at a crossroads as climate and population challenges grow
April 22, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Asia’s sprawling megacities – which are driving economic growth – face an uncertain future as rising temperatures, aging populations and unplanned urban development tests their resilience. Seven of the ten most populous cities in the world are in Asia, with Tokyo, Delhi, Shanghai and Dhaka topping the […]Global growth on recessionary path amid trade tensions and uncertainty
April 18, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The world economy is on a recessionary trajectory as global growth is expected to slow to 2.3 per cent this year due to escalating trade tensions and uncertainty, the UN trade and development body, UNCTAD, said in a new report published on Wednesday. The projection is below […]How to Build Public Support for Energy Subsidy and Pension Reforms
April 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Era Dabla-Norris, Davide Furceri, Mauricio Soto Many countries struggle with low economic growth and high debt and will need bold fiscal actions to restore their finances. Two significant areas for potential savings are energy subsidies and pension systems. However, reforms in both areas can be unpopular with the public. Public […]Emerging Markets Face a Perfect Storm
April 15, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Kanan Mammadov Emerging economies are bracing for what could become a new sovereign debt crisis. Developing countries are set to pay a record $400 billion in external debt service in 2024 (World Economic Forum), a burden that threatens to divert resources from crucial development needs. From 2020 to 2023, there were 15 […]How Rising Geopolitical Risks Weigh on Asset Prices
April 15, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Salih Fendoglu, Mahvash S. Qureshi, Felix Suntheim Heightened tensions can hurt stock markets, raise government borrowing costs, and pose risks to financial stability Global geopolitical risks remain elevated, raising concerns about their potential impact on economic and financial stability. Shocks such as wars, diplomatic tensions, or terrorism can disrupt cross-border trade […]EU and UAE agree to launch free trade talks
April 11, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, President von der Leyen held a cordial phone call with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates. During their discussion, they agreed to launch negotiations on a free trade agreement. This marks a positive step forward […]New screening rules for foreign investment in the EU
April 9, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Tuesday, the International Trade Committee adopted revised rules for screening foreign investments in the EU. Under the new rules, more sectors, such as media services, critical raw materials and transport infrastructure, will be subject to mandatory screening by Member States, in order to […]European Commission issues €8 billion in its 4th syndicated transaction of 2025
April 9, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has today raised €8 billion of EU-Bonds in its 4th syndicated transaction for 2025. The dual-tranche transaction concerned a €5 billion tap of the EU-Bond maturing on 4 July 2028, and a €3 billion tap of the EU-Bond maturing on 4 […]EU budget priorities for 2026: resilience and preparedness
April 4, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs adopted their priorities for the 2026 EU budget on Wednesday, emphasising defence, prosperity and sustainability. MEPs endorsed Parliament’s guidelines for the 2026 EU budget by 441 votes in favour, 173 against, and with 70 abstentions, saying that next year’s budget should focus on […]Seven Success Mantras for Public Financial Management Reforms
April 3, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Antonio Blasco, Srinivas Gurazada Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) assessment reports offer a comprehensive 360-degree view of Public Financial Management (PFM), utilizing robust evidence-based scoring methodology. While producing a high-quality PEFA assessment report is largely a technical exercise, decisions on reform actions necessarily need to go beyond […]EP Trade Committee Chair on US tariffs: “Unjustified, illegal and disproportionate”
April 3, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. ernd LANGE (S&D, DE), Chairman of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee, reacts to the 20% tariff announced by US President Donald Trump tonight. “While President Trump might call today ‘Liberation Day’, from an ordinary citizen’s point of view this is ‘Inflation Day’. These […]Southeast Asia’s Economies Can Gain Most by Packaging Ambitious Reforms
March 28, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Anne-Charlotte Paret Onorato Combining overhauls in areas including business and external regulation, governance, and human development can boost output levels by 3 percent over four years. Anne-Charlotte Paret Onorato March 25, 2025 Southeast Asia’s major economies have made major strides over the last couple of decades. The largest have seen […]Commission endorses preliminary assessment of Romania’s third payment request under the RRF
March 26, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The Commission has given a positive preliminary assessment of the key milestone in Romania’s third payment request regarding the reduction of the special tax regime for micro-enterprises. So far, 68 out of the 74 milestones and targets have been positively assessed under this request […]Commission unveils Savings and Investments Union strategy to enhance financial opportunities for EU citizens and businesses
March 20, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has adopted its strategy for the Savings and Investments Union (SIU), a key initiative to improve the way the EU financial system channels savings to productive investments. It seeks to offer EU citizens broader access to capital markets and better financing […]Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy: Lessons from Singapore’s Experience
March 19, 2025 by 3 Comments
This article is published in association with IMF. In 2023, Uganda launched an ambitious growth strategy to expand its economy from USD 50 billion to USD 500 billion by 2040. This ‘ten-fold growth strategy’ is anchored on agro-industrialization, tourism, mineral development, and science and technology innovation (ATMS) to accelerate growth. Achieving this bold ambition could elevate […]How Sound Economic Policy Can Help Prevent Conflict
March 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Macroeconomic policy can play a key role in preventing armed conflict, in turn saving lives and avoiding injuries, forced displacement and migration, and vast damage to the economy. That’s according to new IMF research, based on policy simulations incorporating machine learning-based predictions of conflict. The paper finds that every […]European Commission issues €9 billion in its 3rd syndicated transaction of 2025 *
March 12, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. * The European Commission has today raised €9 billion of EU-Bonds in its 3rd syndicated transaction for 2025. The single-tranche transaction concerned a new €9 billion EU-Bond maturing on 12 December 2035. The 10-year bond was priced 99.674% with a re-offer yield of 3.413%. Bids received […]Boosting Growth and Prosperity in South Africa
March 11, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Improving the business environment, strengthening governance, and reforming the labor market are among the keys to economic success South Africa is well-positioned to confront significant longstanding challenges that have been holding the economy back: declining real per-capital income, persistent unemployment, pervasive poverty, and one of the highest inequality […]EIB mobilises capital markets for gender equality and women’s economic empowerment
March 6, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank has announced the extension of its Sustainability Awareness Bond (SAB) to cover two new social objectives: “gender equality” and “women’s economic empowerment”. It comes ahead of International Women’s Day at the EIB Group Forum which has brought together partners from national finance […]How Talent Fuels Growth
March 6, 2025 by 1 Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Gita Bhatt Every great leap in human progress—from the printing press to the steam engine to the semiconductor—has been driven by ideas. But ideas do not emerge in a vacuum; they come from people. And among them, it is often the most talented minds that push the boundaries […]EBRD’s 2025 growth forecast for Türkiye unchanged
February 27, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with EBRD. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) expects Türkiye’s economy to grow by 3 per cent in 2025, unchanged from its September 2024 forecast. The Bank expects the Turkish economy to then grow by 3.5 per cent in 2026. These forecasts were published today in […]Commission brings relief to European consumers and businesses with Action Plan to save €260 billion annually by 2040
February 27, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The EU is at a crucial turning point for its competitiveness, decarbonisation and security, with a clear need to act. Structurally high energy costs are hurting our citizens and businesses. The challenges are clear, and so is the role of the European Union to […]
