The Journal

The Journal

Business & EconomicsVoices

Beyond the austerity straitjacket

Unfortunately, a core group of bureaucrats at the European Commission remain wedded to the myth of fiscal austerity. One hopes that, in the discussions on the EU’s new fiscal rules, this approach will lose out to a more flexible and progressive one. After having gone through the increase in expenditure implied by the draft budgetary plans submitted by the European Union’s Member States in early October, the European Commission issued letters to a number of countries to inform them that they were not conforming to...
Fiscal Fox | posted today
European UnionVoices

EU-China Summit: red carpet or red alert?

The only way the EU can secure its place as a geopolitical interlocutor is to understand when and how to cooperate with China, even if it requires swallowing its pride. As the 7-8 December EU-China Summut approaches, all eyes will be on whether China will roll out the red carpet for the presidents of two of the European Union’s main institutions, or whether their welcome to Beijing will be a more subdued one. Should it turn out to be...
Brussels Watcher | posted yesterday
Stories

Make way for the CD’s comeback

Much like vinyl before it, the CD is enjoying a renewed interest. The younger generation is discovering the joy of old formats as it pursues the tangible appeal of owning one’s own music collection. “I got the most unexpected message from my ex-husband today,” Fiona remarked to her workmate as they strolled along Republic Street during their lunch break. “He wanted to know if I still had his old CD collection and if I’d be willing to return it to him. Back...
The Journal | 26/11/2023
Business & EconomicsStories

The fastest growing EU economy, now and till 2025

Comparing the European Commission’s reports about the Maltese economy with some of the local media’s vacuous rhetoric, one can barely realise that one is reading about the same economy. While here in Malta, certain columnists worry about Malta’s economic model, back in Brussels the most commonly used phrase about Malta’s economy is “robust growth”. While in its Autumn 2023 economic projections the European Commission has just halved its forecast for...
The Journal | 26/11/2023
European UnionStories

National interest a priority: “Let’s listen to our people”

Maltese S&D MEP Alex Agius Saliba attributes the rise of far-right parties across Europe to a perceived gap left by left-wing parties. He stresses that, no matter how well-intentioned, European policies must not impose undue hardships on citizens. The far-right is once again raising its head in Europe. Following its historic electoral win on Wednesday in the Netherlands, Geert Wilders’ Party for Freedom now joins our neighbour’s Brothers of Italy, Hungary’s Fidesz, Poland’s United Right, Finland’s Finns Party,...
The Journal | 25/11/2023

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