The Sound of Economics The Sound of Economics Live: The State of the European Union 2025
Sep 10, 2025
In this discussion, Bruegel’s economics experts—Jeromin Zettelmeyer, Simone Tagliapietra, and Reinhilde Veugelers—evaluate Ursula von der Leyen’s recent address on the EU’s future. They probe Europe’s economic vulnerabilities, the urgency for a cohesive Green Deal, and the pressing need for national reforms in housing and pensions. The conversation dives into technology’s role in productivity, challenges in the automotive sector, and the path to financial integration in the EU. They also tackle geopolitical challenges and the push for energy independence amid changing global dynamics.
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Europe's Strategic Diagnosis
- Ursula von der Leyen openly recognised Europe is in a strategic pickle after the US trade episode and global shifts in order.
- That diagnosis resets tone and creates political space for stronger EU action if followed by substance.
Innovation As The Core Power Source
- Competitiveness and innovation capacity must be central to Europe's ability to project power and economic independence.
- Existing proposals risk being too timid to close Europe's persistent innovation gap.
Turn Clean Strategy Into Investment
- Move from strategic planning to implementation by turning clean industrial strategies into regulations that mobilise private green investment.
- Prioritise policies that unlock real euros of green investment, not just communications.