Past events

Positive economic developments in Europe in recent years do not change the fact that there is an urgent need for reform. That is why the proposals by the French President Macron, the European Commission and, most recently, the signal sent by the “New Beginning for Europe” featured in the German government’s coalition agreement, are all encouraging signs. We are nevertheless still a long way off any political consensus over how exactly a reform programme should look. Proposals of self and reinsurance against labour market shocks could be a key component of such a consensus. Such insurance would facilitate far more effective cushioning against economic shocks in the Eurozone due to the high share of national self-insurance, with practically no incentive effects, let alone long-term transfers.

The decision of the UK to leave the EU has given rise to a fundamental debate about the future of political and economic integration in Europe. In this debate the concept of a multi-speed Europe is finding increasing support. But a multi-speed Europe suggests that all countries are heading in the same direction, that is, towards more integration. One alternative would be a multi-tier EU, under which members can choose to belong to a variety of "country clubs". Each tier or "club" could then be characterised by a specific form of policy cooperation or integration like an internal market, a customs union, the Schengen zone with common external border controls and immigration policies, the Eurozone, possibly zones of tax coordination or fiscal integration with a common budget and so on.
Keynote speaker: Enrico Spolaore, Tufts University.

Against the background of the fervently discussed reform of the Eurozone, this Joint EconPol-ZEW Lunch Debate will consider a number of questions. These include: Creating an EMU reform package that not only makes economic sense but which both Northern and Southern Europe can agree on; finding a way to effectively combine stabilising elements with elements that ensure a certain degree of self-reliance; precisely defining the responsibilities of a potential European Finance Minister; determining the main priorities of a Eurozone budget.

Speakers: Friedrich Heinemann (ZEW), Paulina Dejmek-Hack (European Commission), Roberto Tamborini (University of Trento), Hans Vijlbrief (President of the Eurogroup Working Group)

The future of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) is at the core of the reflection on the future of European integration. The debate about its architecture has accompanied the entire evolution of the EU and several proposals have been made in the past. This policy forum aims at an open, broad and deep discussion on the possible options for the future of the EMU, starting from the assessment of the existing proposals. We will try to investigate the economic, social and political implications of the EMU, to envisage the changes which may be necessary to move forward, and to assess the political feasibility.

Speakers: László Andor, Senior Fellow at FEPS and former European Commissioner,  Clemens Fuest, President of the ifo Institute for Economic Research, and Dr. Vesa Vihriälä, Managing Director of the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy (ETLA)

Digital technologies and products are playing an increasingly important role as critical drivers of economic growth in Europe. The digital transformation, however, presents huge challenges for national tax systems. In a world where businesses rely on intangible assets whose value is difficult to establish and trade occurs electronically without physical presence, current tax rules no longer appear fit for purpose. This panel will explore what would qualify as the ‘fair’ taxation of corporations providing digital goods and services and chart potential reforms of the international tax system to tackle these challenges.