How can the EU get its act together?

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, we discuss the State of the Union address that Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, delivered on 10 September 2025.  Bruegel's Rebecca Christie, Simone Tagliapietra, Reinhilde Veugelers and Jeromin Zettelmeyer discuss whether the EU is ready to meet the moment. How can Europe boost its economic and geopolitical independence? What steps are most needed to improve productivity and green growth. Did Von der Leyen give a good speech, given the difficulties of asserting European influence in the aftermath of the U.S. recent trade talks? They discuss how Europe can integrate and boost its economy to prepare for a better future. Relevant research: Jeromin Zettelmeyer, Draghi on a shoestring: the European Commission’s Competitiveness Compass, Bruegel Analysis, 3 February 2025   McWilliams, B., S. Tagliapietra and G. Zachmann (2025) ‘Europe’s energy information problem’, Policy Brief 07/2025, Bruegel   Aghion, P., D. Hémous and R. Veugelers (2025/2009) ‘No green growth without innovation’ Policy Brief 24/2025, Bruegel (Original work published in 2009)

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Rebecca Christie discusses central bank independence and credibility with Francesco Papadia and Lucrezia Reichlin, Bruegel fellows and former top officials at the European Central Bank. As the Federal Reserve comes under increasing political pressure in the U.S., understanding what central banks do and why they are needed is more important than ever. Traditional monetary policy, digital currency, financial supervision and climate-related initiatives all play a role in how central banks operate today. Relevant research: Lucrezia Reichlin and Jeromin Zettelmeyer, The European Central Bank must adapt to an environment of inflation volatility, Bruegel Analysis, 12 June 2024 The ECB’s Digital Euro and new operational framework: is there an overlap? Bruegel event, 2 June 2025 Véron, N. (2024) ‘Europe’s banking union at ten: unfinished yet transformative’ Book, Bruegel Véron, N. (2025) ‘Breaking the deadlock: a single supervisor to unshackle Europe's capital markets union’, Bruegel blueprint series 35, Bruegel

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, we explore where Europe fits into a world of geopolitical uncertainty and whether it can rise to the challenge. Host Rebecca Christie is joined by Jeromin Zettelmeyer, Bruegel's Director, and Jason Furman, the Aetna Professor of the Practice of Economic Policy at Harvard University and former top economic adviser under President Barack Obama.  They argue that the EU needs to use mobilise all its resources to safeguard growth, advance low-carbon transition and strengthen its defence capacity. Achieving this, however, means breaking down internal barriers, which will demand ambitious transitional reforms from both member states and the EU itself — and time is of the essence. We will continue our discussion in Bruegel Annual Meetings 2025. Sign up to follow the livestream on 3 September. Relevant research: Jason Furman, Trump’s tariffs leave us in the second worst of all worlds, opinion, Financial Times, 4 Aug 2025 Sapir, A. (2025/2005) ‘Globalisation and the reform of European social models’ Policy Brief 22/2025, Bruegel (Original work published in 2005) Dom, R. and N. Poitiers (2025) ‘The European single market: restarting the perpetual revolution’, Working Paper 15/2025, Bruegel Heussaff, C. and G. Zachmann (2025) ‘Upgrading Europe’s electricity grid is about more than just money’, Policy Brief 04/2025, Bruegel Pisani-Ferry, J, B Weder di Mauro and J Zettelmeyer (eds) (2025), ‘Paris Report 3: Global Action Without Global Governance: Building coalitions for climate transition and nature restoration‘, CEPR Press, Paris & London.

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, host Rebecca Christie is joined by ECB Senior Economist Christoph Kaufmann and Bruegel’s Stavros Zenios to unpack how disaster risk, political instability and investor behaviour collide in euro-area bond markets. They explore why investment funds respond differently to fiscal and political shocks, compared to other investor groups, and what are the consequences for both periphery and core countries. The conversation also addresses the disciplining role of markets, the sustainability of public debt and the need for a euro-area safe asset. Relevant research: Ajovalasit, S., A. Consiglio, G. Pagliardi and S. Zenios (2024) "Incorporating political risk into analysis of sovereign debt sustainability", Analysis, Bruegel Anaya Longaric, P., K. Cera, G. Georgiadis and C. Kaufmann (2025), “Investment funds and euro disaster risk”, Working Paper No. 3029, European Central Bank

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, we explore the shifting strategies of European companies operating in China, as unveiled in a new Bruegel paper co-authored by Alicia García-Herrero, Théo Storella, and Jianwei Xu. Host Yuyun Zhan speaks with Alicia and Théo about the findings, which are based on panel survey data from the European Chamber of Commerce in China. The discussion dives into the four typologies of firm strategy, doubling down, hedging, hibernating, and exiting. Why are some firms staying despite envisioning less profitability? Why are others hedging their bets by expanding elsewhere? Speakers also also touch on broader macroeconomic challenges such as deflation, overcapacity and declining foreign direct investment in China, with implications for European policy and business resilience. This conversation was recorded on 25 July 2025, just after the EU-China Summit. This episode is part of the ZhōngHuá Mundus series of The Sound of Economics. ZhōngHuá Mundus is a newsletter by Bruegel, bringing you monthly analysis of China in the world, as seen from Europe. Sign up now to receive it in your mailbox!

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, host Rebecca Christie is joined by Simon O’Connor, head of the secretariat for the Ukraine Donor Platform, along with Tyson Barker (Atlantic Council) and Bruegel’s Elina Ribakova. The guests discuss the challenges of financing reconstruction while the war is ongoing, the role of the defence industrial base, and Ukraine’s growing strategic importance to European defence. They also examine Ukraine’s evolving partnership with the U.S., the future of reconstruction efforts, and the importance of reform and anti-corruption in long-term planning. With the Ukraine Donor Platform helping to coordinate financial support, speakers highlight the delicate balance between urgent wartime needs and planning for a resilient, post-war economy. Relevant research: Ukraine Donor Platform meetings in Rome, 9-10 July, 2025 Strategic lessons from Ukraine for strengthening European security — KSE Institute report Charting a Path Forward for the U.S.-Ukraine Minerals Deal

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, host Rebecca Christie discusses how insurance funds invest in the global economy with Patrick Hoedjes, Head of Policy and Supervisory Convergence Department of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA), and Bruegel’s Jesper Berg, Marie-Sophie Lappe and David Pinkus. Where is the money going? What role does European policy play? How can we make sure citizens understand their options and have confidence in the system? They also discuss new research on how much insurance company and pension fund investments stay in Europe, a key question in the EU capital markets debate. The discussion is based on an upcoming Bruegel Policy Brief written by Marie-Sophie Lappe and David Pinkus.

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, host Rebecca Christie is joined by Bruegel’s Director Jeromin Zettelmeyer and Affiliate Fellow Ben McWilliams to discuss new research on climate action and international cooperation. They present their chapter in the Paris Report 3, exploring the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries, the design of the Clean Industrial Deal, and relatively high energy costs. They discuss how the EU could work in partnership with developing countries to achieve efficient global industrial decarbonisation. Bruegel has released two Policy Briefs which feature in the Paris Report 3: Global Action Without Global Governance: Building coalitions for climate transition and nature restoration, a joint initiative by Bruegel and CEPR (Pisani-Ferry et al, 2025). This year’s focus is on accelerating the energy transition and restoring nature in emerging and developing economies. Relevant research: McWilliams, B., S. Tagliapietra and J. Zettelmeyer (2025) ‘Reconciling the European Union’s clean industrialisation goals with those of the Global South’, Policy Brief 18/2025, Bruegel Pisani-Ferry, J., B. Weder di Mauro and J. Zettelmeyer (2025) ‘Building coalitions for climate transition and nature restoration’, Policy Brief 17/2025, Bruegel CEPR (2025) Paris Report 3: Global Action Without Global Governance: Building coalitions for climate transition and nature restoration, Centre for Economic Policy Research, available at https://cepr.org/publications/books-and-reports/paris-report-3-global-action-without-global-governance-building

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, host Rebecca Christie discusses how common financial-services supervision could jumpstart the EU single market with Bruegel’s Nicolas Véron and Enrico Letta, former Italian prime minister and author of the EU’s flagship single-market report. They talk about ways to boost the European Securities and Markets Authority, the current regulator, and move away from national silos by putting ESMA offices in every member state. They also discuss how better capital markets would make the EU more competitive and lead to a stronger and safer European economy. Relevant research: Letta, E. (2024) "Much more than a market - Speed, Security, Solidarity", Report Véron, N. (2025) "Breaking the deadlock: a single supervisor to unshackle Europe's capital markets union", Blueprint, Bruegel

Critical technologies including artificial intelligence, semiconductors and quantum computing are gaining increasing attention due to their strategic importance and indispensable role in national security. In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Yuyun Zhan invites Alicia García-Herrero and Claudio Feijóo to look into how the world’s three leading global economies, China, the US and the EU, are advancing in these cutting-edge sectors. Which economies are leading in specific subfields? How quickly are these technologies being translated into real-world applications? Relevant publications: García-Herrero, A., M. Krystyanczuk and R. Schindowski (2025) ‘Radical novelties in critical technologies and spillovers: how do China, the US and the EU fare?’, Working Paper 07/2025, Bruegel García-Herrero, A., M. Krystyanczuk and R. Schindowski (2025) ‘Which companies are ahead in frontier innovation on critical technologies? Comparing China, the European Union and the United States’, Working Paper 08/2025, Bruegel This episode is part of the ZhōngHuá Mundus series of The Sound of Economics. ZhōngHuá Mundus is a newsletter by Bruegel, bringing you monthly analysis of China in the world, as seen from Europe. Sign up now to receive it in your mailbox!