This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The EU and South Africa have just signed a landmark Clean Trade and Investment Partnership, along with a new cooperation agreement on minerals and metals value chains and new projects under Global Gateway, Europe’s investment strategy for the world. Announced by President Ursula von […]Ahead of G20 Summit, EU and South Africa advance cooperation on clean trade and investment
November 21, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The EU and South Africa have just signed a landmark Clean Trade and Investment Partnership, along with a new cooperation agreement on minerals and metals value chains and new projects under Global Gateway, Europe’s investment strategy for the world. Announced by President Ursula von […]Commission proposes strengthened cooperation to combat tax fraud
November 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission proposed an amendment to strengthen cooperation between the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (‘EPPO’), the European Anti-Fraud Office (‘OLAF’), and Member States. The proposal provides a legal basis for the exchange of information and access to VAT data, enhancing the EU’s […]Belize Invests in Infrastructure to Boost Growth Potential
November 10, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. By Ziad Amer, Bunyada Laoprapassorn, and Shane Lowe Country seeks to tackle tourism bottlenecks, improve access to credit, and expand its labor force Blessed by nature with lush forests, coral reefs and a strategic location near Mexico and the United States, Belize’s economy is highly reliant on tourism, […]At the CELAC-EU Summit, Europe and Latin America chart a common course for a fair partnership
November 10, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. At the CELAC-EU Summit in Santa Marta, Colombia, the European Union and 33 countries from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) renewed their commitment to defending a peaceful global order, rooted in democracy, social justice, respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The leaders […]Nearly a third of Jamaica’s annual wealth wiped out by Hurricane Melissa
November 7, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Around 1.5 million Jamaicans have been impacted by Hurricane Melissa – the worst climate disaster in the Caribbean nation’s history, said the top UN development official in the region on Thursday. Kishan Khoday, Resident Representative for the UN Development Programme (UNDP), told journalists at UN Headquarters in […]$31 trillion debt is holding back developing countries, UN trade summit hears
October 21, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Holding the line on the existing rules-based international trading system remains an essential challenge if the world is the keep a damaging tariff war at bay, a top UN trade official said on Monday. Addressing the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)’s 195 Member States in Geneva, Rebeca […]UN faces ‘race to bankruptcy’ as Guterres unveils sharply reduced 2026 budget
October 20, 2025 by 1 Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The United Nations faces a “race to bankruptcy” unless Member States pay their dues in full and on time, Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Friday, presenting a sharply reduced $3.238 billion regular budget for 2026. The revised proposal marks a significant drop from his original ask for […]EIB Group to boost investments outside EU to up to €10 billion annually
October 16, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group has approved strategic orientations for EIB Global, its international partnerships and development arm. The plan targets global challenges and amplifies Europe’s voice in a changing geopolitical landscape. It streamlines support for high-impact projects in over 130 countries, aligned with local […]Global Gateway Forum: the European Commission and World Bank Group deepen partnership for infrastructure and jobs
October 9, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission, in line with its Global Gateway investment strategy, and the World Bank Group are deepening their strategic partnership to drive a new generation of connectivity projects. An initial pipeline of projects includes 18 high-impact investments in three strategic sectors (energy, transport, […]Dollar’s Share of Reserves Held Steady in Second Quarter When Adjusted for FX Moves
October 3, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Glen Kwende, Erin Nephew, Carlos Sánchez-Muñoz Our unique data on the currency composition of global foreign exchange reserves, COFER, track how much of the world’s reserves are held at central banks in different currencies—such as the US dollar, the euro, Japanese yen, Chinese renminbi, British pound, and others. The […]The cold war of health
October 2, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Danielle Mbamba, a sixth year medical student at Université des Montagnes in Cameroon. She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s […]Global Debt Remains Above 235% of World GDP
September 18, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Vitor Gaspar, Carlos Eduardo Goncalves, Marcos Poplawski-Ribeiro Global debt has stabilized, though it remains at an elevated level, as a continued reduction in private-sector lending offset greater borrowing by governments. Total debt was little changed last year, just above 235 percent of global gross domestic product, according to […]EU welcomes entry into force of WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
September 16, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Union welcomes the long-awaited entry into force of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, a major milestone after two decades of intense multilateral negotiations. This represents a significant step forward in the global effort to protect the world’s ocean, […]Commission proposes Mercosur and Mexico agreements for adoption
September 3, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has put forward its proposals to the Council for the signature and conclusion of the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA) and the EU-Mexico Modernised Global Agreement (MGA). These landmark deals form a critical part of the EU’s strategy to diversify its trade […]Obstructing Public Sector Accounting Reform: the Top 10 pitfalls
August 27, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Policymakers and government officials spend time, energy, budgets, and political capital on implementing public sector accounting reforms, only for unintended actions to potentially obstruct their chances of success. 10 types of obstruction are outlined below, and how policymakers and officials can instead avoid it: 1. Avoid diagnostics. The obstructive […]EU and Jordan take important step towards delivery of €500 million to support Jordan’s macro-financial stability and reforms
August 26, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission and Jordan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding launching the implementation of €500 million Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) to Jordan. This programme is part of a broader EU-Jordan Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership adopted earlier this year, reinforcing our shared efforts to support […]Commission seeks input on revision of rescue and restructuring State aid guidelines
August 25, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has today launched a Call for Evidence and a public consultation to seek input on the scope and content of its revision of the Guidelines on State aid for rescuing and restructuring non-financial undertakings in difficulty (‘Rescue and Restructuring Guidelines’). This […]EU and US publish Joint Statement on transatlantic trade and investment
August 22, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The EU and US have issued a Joint Statement establishing a framework for fair, balanced and mutually beneficial transatlantic trade and investment. This Joint Statement confirms and builds on the political agreement reached by President von der Leyen and President Trump on 27 July. The Joint Statement sets […]Reforming Tax Administrations: a Focus on the Human Factor
August 11, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Reforming a tax administration is essential for achieving greater efficiency, transparency, and public trust. This piece shares principles and lessons for driving sustainable change, focusing on the human factors that make reform succeed. Reform Is Human Tax administration reform is not just technical work—it is human work. Institutions […]Commission disburses nearly €43 billion to five Member States under NextGenerationEU
August 8, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has disbursed a total of €42.8 billion to five Member States – Italy, Portugal, Cyprus, Malta, and Spain – under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. The disbursements are part of the Commission’s efforts to support the […]How Von der Leyen gambled with a smile the entire EU economy on a humiliating for all Europeans 15% trade “deal” with Trump
July 31, 2025 by 2 Comments
Despite Von der Leyen et al. appearing all victorious after bowing to the Orange King last Sunday in Turnberry, Scotland, one thing is for sure, this is not a deal but a complete and utter surrender. The fact that the president of the European Commission went to Scotland to watch Trump play golf at his […]EU-US trade deal explained – energy aspects
July 31, 2025 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. EU energy imports from the US The US already is one of the EU’s top energy partners and, by far, the EU’s first supplier of LNG, with55% of our LNG supply coming from the US so far in 2025. The US is also the […]Statement by President von der Leyen on the deal on tariffs and trade with the United States
July 29, 2025 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. We have reached a deal on tariffs and trade with the US. Today’s deal creates certainty in uncertain times. It delivers stability and predictability, for citizens and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic. This is a deal between the two largest economies in […]Commission welcomes the adoption of the EU mandate by the Council to launch negotiations with the six GCC countries
July 21, 2025 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission and the High Representative welcome the Council’s decision authorising them to enter into negotiations with each of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates with the aim of concluding […]UN-backed labour standards at risk as tariff uncertainty grows
July 15, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Garment factories around the world which have signed up to implement UN-backed labour standards may simply stop investing in improving working conditions, due to widespread uncertainty over tariff levels, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). Threatened or actual tariff increases are largely focused on taxing imports […]US tariff delay deepens trade uncertainty, warns top UN economist
July 10, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. A leading UN trade official warned on Tuesday that the United States’ decision to delay the end of a tariff suspension by a few weeks risks prolonging global uncertainty and undermining long-term investments and commercial contracts. While the initial 90-day pause on so-called “reciprocal” tariffs offered some […]Better implementation of EU environmental rules protects human health and supports economic growth
July 8, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the Commission published the fourth Environmental Implementation Review. It supports environmental enforcement and raises awareness about the importance of EU environmental rules to ensure prosperity, competitiveness and environmental security in the European Union. The costs of non-implementation of EU environmental laws through air […]Poorest Countries and Fragile States Are Increasingly Falling Behind
July 4, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Guillaume Chabert, Robert Powell The significant shocks that have buffeted the global economy over the past five years have weighed heaviest on low-income countries and fragile and conflict-affected states. The post-pandemic recovery in low-income countries has lagged emerging market economies, which began their revival in 2021, though with […]Key actions launched to advance the circular economy
July 2, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the Commission launched several initiatives to accelerate the EU’s transition to a circular economy and prepare the ground for the Circular Economy Act, expected in 2026. Circular economy enhances competitiveness and economic growth by promoting the reuse, recycling and remanufacturing of materials. The […]Seychelles’ Path to Macroeconomic Stability and Resilience
July 1, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Comprehensive reforms have fueled Seychelles’ journey out of crisis and its continued resilience in the face of shocks Seychelles—a nation of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean—today enjoys a comparatively high degree of economic stability. Inflation is below 2 percent, real GDP has largely recovered from the pandemic, […]New UN report charts path out of debt crisis threatening global development
June 30, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. A decade after the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), development is facing serious headwinds – including what UN officials describe as a “silent crisis” of surging debt service payments in low-income countries. On Friday, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed launched a new report, Confronting the Debt […]How to Spur Economic Growth in Africa’s Fragile and Conflict-Affected States
June 9, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Wenjie Chen, Michele Fornino, Hamza Mighri, Can Sever More than half of sub-Saharan Africa’s population lives in fragile and conflict-affected states (FCS)—economies that face profound challenges such as stagnant economic growth, weak institutions, inadequate public services, extreme poverty, war, and forced internal displacement. Some countries have transitioned out […]Commission adopts European Ocean Pact for a healthy ocean, a competitive blue economy and thriving coastal communities
June 6, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission adopted a European Ocean Pact, a comprehensive strategy to better protect the ocean, promote a thriving blue economy and support the well-being of people living in coastal areas. The Pact brings together EU ocean policies under one single reference framework, […]
