The dark cloud of the Omicron coronavirus variant may be plunging your plans for the New Year into uncertainty, but there are still reasons to hope that Europe can make significant progress on a range of thorny issues in 2022.
While it is clear we will have to live with COVID-19 for another while, new political constellations have been emerging since Germany’s change of government in December. These will offer the prospect of innovative solutions for long-standing problems in the European Union.
To be sure, there are several things that could go wrong: an uncontrollable surge of more deadly coronavirus variants that set back the economic recovery; a Russian military offensive against Ukraine; a Polish blockade of EU institutions in the battle over the rule of law and EU funds.
However, none of those worst-case scenarios is certain — or even likely. And there are undeniable grounds to be more optimistic about the coming year.
After years of sterile battles over the EU’s much abused fiscal rules — which were suspended at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic — a consensus is emerging that in order to avoid strangling the recovery, budget discipline regulations must be changed before they return to force in 2023.
From the frugal north to the more spendthrift south, there is widespread recognition that public investment will be key to the success of the green and digital transformations of the European economy, and that outdated debt and deficit limits must not prevent this. Along this line, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi have jointly called for reform to perpetuate collective EU borrowing beyond the temporary recovery fund created in 2020.
Read more at:
5 reasons for the EU to be hopeful in 2022 – POLITICO
Showing posts with label Positive. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Positive. Show all posts
12/5/21
The Netherlands: Former Dutch queen Beatrix tests positive for coronavirus
Princess Beatrix, the 83-year-old former Dutch queen, has tested positive for the coronavirus, the royal house announced Saturday.
In a statement, the royal house said Beatrix got tested after feeling “mild cold symptoms.” It said she is in isolation at home and abiding by rules for people who have tested positive. The princess lives in a castle in the central Netherlands.
Read more at: Former Dutch queen Beatrix tests positive for coronavirus - ABC News
In a statement, the royal house said Beatrix got tested after feeling “mild cold symptoms.” It said she is in isolation at home and abiding by rules for people who have tested positive. The princess lives in a castle in the central Netherlands.
Read more at: Former Dutch queen Beatrix tests positive for coronavirus - ABC News
1/13/21
US Economy: Analysis: Wall Street brushes off political turmoil, looks to economic rebound
Wall Street, despite major social and political problems still upbeat about US Economy.
Read more at: Analysis: Wall Street brushes off political turmoil, looks to economic rebound | Reuters
Read more at: Analysis: Wall Street brushes off political turmoil, looks to economic rebound | Reuters
1/3/21
China-EU trade relations: China-EU investment agreement to inject new life into global economic recovery
China and the European Union (EU) on Wednesday announced they have completed investment agreement negotiations as scheduled.
The long-awaited result, which came after 35 rounds of negotiations in the course of seven years, is a milestone in EU-China relations and is expected to inject new vitality into the pandemic-battered global economy, European experts, officials and business leaders have said.
Read more at: Xinhua Headlines: China-EU investment agreement to inject new life into global economic recovery - China.org.cn
The long-awaited result, which came after 35 rounds of negotiations in the course of seven years, is a milestone in EU-China relations and is expected to inject new vitality into the pandemic-battered global economy, European experts, officials and business leaders have said.
Read more at: Xinhua Headlines: China-EU investment agreement to inject new life into global economic recovery - China.org.cn
11/7/20
Most world leaders express hope, relief after Biden win - by D. Billerand and J. LeicesterL
World leaders swiftly congratulated U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on his victory Saturday, cheering it as an opportunity to fortify global democracy and celebrating the significance of Americans having their first woman vice president.
Although U.S. President Donald Trump did not concede defeat, relief was a common theme expressed in many parts of the world to the news that his reelection bid had failed.
Read more at:
Most world leaders express hope, relief after Biden win
Although U.S. President Donald Trump did not concede defeat, relief was a common theme expressed in many parts of the world to the news that his reelection bid had failed.
8/23/20
Coronavius: Europe can contain virus without second lockdown, says WHO
It is possible to keep the coronavirus pandemic in check in Europe while
also keeping the economy running and an education system in operation,
the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Thursday (20 August).
The WHO European Regional Office is convening a virtual meeting for all 53 countries on re-opening of schools and COVID-19 on 31 August where concrete actions will be discussed to ensure children receive proper education in safe settings.
Such options might include heightened hygiene and physical distancing in school settings for all and the introduction of targeted measures quickly and effectively to suit local circumstances, such as adjusting school schedules and limiting pupil numbers where cases are more widespread.
However, he cautioned that Europe must make sure that it adopts the right public health measures in order to contain the virus while normal life resumes, stressing in particular that the approaching influenza season will increase pressure on healthcare services.
“It is critical that countries monitor flu activity and restore and reinforce routine sentinel surveillance to include both viruses, and that they promote flu vaccination for at-risk groups. This is even more important this year as we need to protect our hospitals and health workforce already coping with COVID-19, from being overwhelmed,” he said.
“This year, even more than previous years, we must support older people to get their flu jab early, in a safe environment”, Kluge stressed.
Read more at:
Europe can contain virus without second lockdown, says WHO – EURACTIV.com
The WHO European Regional Office is convening a virtual meeting for all 53 countries on re-opening of schools and COVID-19 on 31 August where concrete actions will be discussed to ensure children receive proper education in safe settings.
Such options might include heightened hygiene and physical distancing in school settings for all and the introduction of targeted measures quickly and effectively to suit local circumstances, such as adjusting school schedules and limiting pupil numbers where cases are more widespread.
However, he cautioned that Europe must make sure that it adopts the right public health measures in order to contain the virus while normal life resumes, stressing in particular that the approaching influenza season will increase pressure on healthcare services.
“It is critical that countries monitor flu activity and restore and reinforce routine sentinel surveillance to include both viruses, and that they promote flu vaccination for at-risk groups. This is even more important this year as we need to protect our hospitals and health workforce already coping with COVID-19, from being overwhelmed,” he said.
“This year, even more than previous years, we must support older people to get their flu jab early, in a safe environment”, Kluge stressed.
Read more at:
Europe can contain virus without second lockdown, says WHO – EURACTIV.com
8/8/20
Britain: UK says it's confident of Brexit trade deal as EU changing tone
Britain’s top minister overseeing Brexit talks said on Friday he was
confident a free trade deal would be clinched with the European Union as
there had been a distinct change of tone from the bloc in recent weeks
allowing progress to be made.
Read more
UK says it's confident of Brexit trade deal as EU changing tone - Reuters
Read more
UK says it's confident of Brexit trade deal as EU changing tone - Reuters
11/29/17
U.S. Economic Forecast: Growth of the economy to continue through 2018
For the first time since the middle of 2014, the US economy has
sustained 3 percent growth for two consecutive quarters, providing
strong momentum into next year. The current Conference Board forecast
calls for 2.8 percent growth during the final quarter of 2017 and 2.5
percent growth in 2018.
This would represent the economy’s best 2-year run since 2005.
Business investment has awakened from the doldrums this year, rising by more than 4 percent after falling into negative territory in 2016. Confidence in the manufacturing sector has been especially strong.
The composition of growth supports a long-term improvement in productivity. Capital equipment has risen at an 8.7 percent annual rate during the past two quarters, while investment in warehouse structures is up more than 20 percent since the end of last year. These investments demonstrate a renewed firm commitment to increased efficiency.
Consumer spending eased a bit in the third quarter, but with The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index still strong and housing prices rising, expect a robust holiday season.
One encouraging sign was the pickup in motor vehicle spending thanks to renewed demand following the two hurricanes. Should employment growth rebound quickly from last month’s storm related decline, tighter labor markets should translate into a renewed wage acceleration which could boost spending late this year or into 2018. The possibility of federal income tax cuts could do the same.
The economy enters 2018 in good position to maintain strong growth from 2017.
Current Fed chair Janet Yellen and new Fed chair nominee Jerome Powell may raise rates slightly faster as a result. These expectations have led long-term rates to rise modestly.
The dollar has also started strengthening since early September after weakening through much of 2017, creating less favorable terms of trade. Higher capital costs and the possibility of a less supportive external environment for growth have not rattled the market yet.
With growth prospects strong for 2018, profits should grow robustly as well, rewarding those businesses that increase investment levels.
Read more: U.S. Forecast | The Conference Board
This would represent the economy’s best 2-year run since 2005.
Business investment has awakened from the doldrums this year, rising by more than 4 percent after falling into negative territory in 2016. Confidence in the manufacturing sector has been especially strong.
The composition of growth supports a long-term improvement in productivity. Capital equipment has risen at an 8.7 percent annual rate during the past two quarters, while investment in warehouse structures is up more than 20 percent since the end of last year. These investments demonstrate a renewed firm commitment to increased efficiency.
Consumer spending eased a bit in the third quarter, but with The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index still strong and housing prices rising, expect a robust holiday season.
One encouraging sign was the pickup in motor vehicle spending thanks to renewed demand following the two hurricanes. Should employment growth rebound quickly from last month’s storm related decline, tighter labor markets should translate into a renewed wage acceleration which could boost spending late this year or into 2018. The possibility of federal income tax cuts could do the same.
The economy enters 2018 in good position to maintain strong growth from 2017.
Current Fed chair Janet Yellen and new Fed chair nominee Jerome Powell may raise rates slightly faster as a result. These expectations have led long-term rates to rise modestly.
The dollar has also started strengthening since early September after weakening through much of 2017, creating less favorable terms of trade. Higher capital costs and the possibility of a less supportive external environment for growth have not rattled the market yet.
With growth prospects strong for 2018, profits should grow robustly as well, rewarding those businesses that increase investment levels.
Read more: U.S. Forecast | The Conference Board
1/27/17
EU-Digest and Almere-Digest Poll resuls show skepticism in Europe about Trump election
The combined results of the EU-Digest and Almere-Digest Poll on the question : Is the election of Donald Trump good for the EU which ran from the day Donald Trump was declared the winner of the US Presidential Election was closed on January 27 showed skepticism in Europe about Donald Trumps election as it relates to the EU..
Only 2 % of those polled considered his election favorable for the EU, while 78 % polled considered it unfavorable,. 10 % had no opinion either way and another 10% had a variety of opinions ranging from extremely critical to neutral -"wait and see".
EU-Digest
Only 2 % of those polled considered his election favorable for the EU, while 78 % polled considered it unfavorable,. 10 % had no opinion either way and another 10% had a variety of opinions ranging from extremely critical to neutral -"wait and see".
EU-Digest
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