urges structurally and immediately strengthening European public investment in space and increasing space investment to at least 0.2% of GDP by 2030.
recommends linking the European Space Strategy to European strategic autonomy and encouraging complementary ecosystems and the multiplier effect of the space economy in support of specific sectors.
The European Union’s Single Market, often hailed as the crown jewel of European integration, promised frictionless trade and a level playing field. Yet today, it remains unfinished showing a patchwork of 27 national corporate laws, tax codes, accounting rules, and labour systems. For businesses operating across borders, this legal maze acts as invisible tariffs: up to 45% on goods and over 100% on services. Expanding across borders still means paying lawyers and accountants, not hiring engineers or sales teams.
The EU Space Act present a critical opportunity to drive innovation, create high-quality jobs, and secure Europe’s space sector competitiveness on the global stage.
The launch of the European Democracy Shield on 12 November 2025 marks a watershed moment in the EU’s defence of its democratic infrastructure against disinformation, foreign interference, and manipulation of public opinion. In an era where digital platforms and generative AI increasingly shape how Europeans think, vote, and engage, democracy itself demands new forms of protection.
Public procurement is one of the EU’s most powerful yet underused economic instruments. Each year, governments and public authorities spend more than €2 trillion—around 14 % of EU GDP—on goods, works and services. These are taxpayer euros. How we spend them determines Europe’s competitiveness, innovation capacity and trust in the Single Market.
The transition to circular economy is a central objective of EU policy, yet little attention is paid to the specific materials that can sustain circularity. Our opinion addresses this gap as part of a broader examination on scaling up the EU circular economy, while highlighting the role of “permanent materials” – such as steel, aluminium and glass – and calling for their contribution to be recognised in EU legislation.
Creating a political and funding instrument to promote competitiveness has been the long-standing wish of the European business community and finally competitiveness is the compass guiding the EU’s economic direction. Following the Competitiveness Compass and concrete initiatives such as the Omnibus Simplification Packages, the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) proposal marks a strong step toward restoring Europe’s leadership back at the global economic scene.
