“I cannot say it because it’s a sort of open secret but yes, it became clear at some point that the name [of Thierry Breton] was part of the negotiation,” a French official with knowledge of the talks said on condition they remain anonymous. The rumor that Macron would eventually drop Breton circulated for weeks, … Read more
Only six ministers of 27 attended the meeting, including Varga himself. However, international organizations sent high-level participants, including the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, and the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Matthias Cormann. Varga said the participation of “financial institutions of key importance” like the IMF and … Read more
“The leading firms in research and investment-spending are the same ones we had 20 years ago ― cars,” he said. “The United States used to be the same, autos and pharma, 20 years ago. Now it’s all digital.” China isn’t just catching up. In areas like the electric vehicle industry, it is even leapfrogging Europe. … Read more
Draghi is pushing for the EU to issue new common debt to fund its industrial and defense needs, something that is opposed by several governments. He noted that Europe’s goal to whittle its greenhouse gas emissions down to zero by the middle of the century offer the bloc the chance to build and export clean … Read more
“Some people might describe him as inscrutable,” said one of his close advisers who, perhaps in keeping with the personality of the man himself, requested anonymity. McGrath is “not somebody with any political enemies, not a factional politician,” the adviser continued. “He’s certainly a believer that hard work brings its own reward, rather than political … Read more
Yet a win by a conservative outsider is hardly unprecedented, with movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger having served two terms as governor from 2003 to 2011. Gove commented that Hilton “has the policy smarts and the drive” to take on the job. He noted that “of course it’s a blue state, but governor races are different, … Read more
Sewing said that EU citizens work about 34 hours a week on average compared with about 28 hours in Germany. He argued that Germany should embrace longer work-weeks. “We won’t manage it with an average of 28 hours per week and a pension at 63,” he said. The euro area’s biggest economy has been digesting … Read more
This was the main decision G7 leaders made at their summit. And to enable it, the EU was to adopt a law prolonging the freezing of sovereign Russian assets until Moscow had paid for its war against Ukraine in full. This would guarantee the frozen assets would continue to be available to produce the interest … Read more
Macron on Tuesday held talks with conservative leaders including Senate leader Gérard Larcher and conservative parliamentary leader Laurent Wauquiez, according to several people with knowledge of the talks who were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, seemingly solidifying Bertrand’s status as likely nominee. But by Tuesday afternoon, Bertrand was already facing serious … Read more
During her spell as finance minister at the height of the eurozone crisis, she handled the country’s banking turmoil and steered through reforms that were encouraged by the country’s creditors. Albuquerque is one of only six women to have been put forward as commissioners, challenging President von der Leyen’s push for a gender-balanced team. Two … Read more
