Research
How to build and fund a better EU green industrial policy
19 February 2025
The EU should revamp its industrial policy for clean technologies not to cede leadership in clean tech manufacturing to China as Trump's America backtracks from decarbonisation goals.
Can Keir Starmer reset relations with the EU?: Annual report 2024
17 February 2025
The CER's annual report starts with an essay on whether Keir Starmer can reset relations with the EU.
Trump is back, worse than last time. Is Europe ready?
11 February 2025
Donald Trump’s America is an unreliable ally. Individual European states will be tempted to hope Trump attacks someone else. They must work together instead, to reduce their dependency on America.
It's time to upgrade the EU-India relationship
07 February 2025
The EU’s new leadership team all agree that relations with India should be a priority, and both sides stand to gain by deepening co-operation.
Towards an EU 'defence union'?
30 January 2025
The EU can play a substantial role in strengthening Europe's defences, in synergy with NATO and national efforts, if it adopts a pragmatic approach, sharply focused on military needs.
Why tech firms should not stoke transatlantic tensions
24 January 2025
Some large US tech firms want to enlist President Trump in their attempts to water down EU tech laws. Such a strategy will only make life harder for US firms in Europe – and globally.
Europe and the global economic order
22 January 2025
Geopolitical rivalries threaten the legal order on which European trade depends. To maintain its influence and secure its trade relations, the EU must maintain its openness and build alliances.
How German industry can survive the second China shock
16 January 2025
China's industrial subsidies and aggressive export-led growth are undercutting German manufacturing. To defend its automotive and engineering sectors, Germany must finally get tough on China with trade and industrial policies.
The difficulties of restoring democracy in Poland
17 December 2024
The restoration of democracy in Poland is a slow-moving process, but it offers valuable lessons to other member-states.
The UK can ride Trump out on trade
12 December 2024
The UK will probably face less trade disruption under Donald Trump than some fear – but will have fewer opportunities to improve ties with the US than some hope.
Articles
How European Defense Bonds could work
13 February 2025
Internationale Politik Quarterly
Common EU debt issuance does not create an off-the-shelf bazooka. Making bonds work implies inevitable trade-offs and requires real tax revenues.
Can EU defence bonds strengthen Europe’s defences?
21 January 2025
Encompass
Europeans urgently need to strengthen their militaries. However, funding European defence is a major challenge.
De Duitse economie krimpt, fabrieken sluiten. Het Duitse ‘zelfbeeld’ is niet houdbaar, zegt econoom Tordoir
03 January 2025
NRC Handelsblad
Duitsland blijkt opeens de oude man van Europa. De digitalisering blijft achter, de infrastructuur is verouderd en China ondermijnt de Duitse industriële basis. „Dit is een existentiële bedreiging.”
If the “Brussels effect” fades in tech markets, the EU will only have itself to blame
03 January 2025
Competition Policy International
The EU’s ability to project its regulatory standards across the globe is under pressure. Policy-makers within the EU fret that over-regulation, especially in tech, is contributing to the bloc’s slow economic growth.
Is the UK-EU reset worth pursuing?
19 December 2024
Encompass
Labour has taken a defensive position on Brexit since Keir Starmer first set out his red lines at the Centre for European Reform’s 24th birthday party in 2022.
The Joint Expeditionary Force: Deterrent, defender, or distraction?
06 December 2024
Carnegie Endowment
Since Baltic and Nordic member countries remain invested in the force, they should ensure that it has realistic tasks, is resourced to perform them, and contributes to NATO activities in the region.
Press
EU-India set to shape future relations in crucial New Delhi meeting
19 February 2025
EurActiv
India, as the world’s fifth-largest economy and most populous nation, has ambitious plans to boost manufacturing and exports while engaging globally through multilateral partnerships, says Anunita Chandrasekar of the Centre for European Reform (CER).
«Das reicht nicht»: Deutscher Wahlkampf stimmt Ökonomen pessimistisch
19 February 2025
Tagesanzeiger
Deutschland’s Wirtschaftsmodell – sparen, während andere konsumieren – ist [jetzt] eine Sackgasse. Das zeigen Brad Setser & Sander Tordoir in ihrem neuen Papier schonungslos auf.
Europe's population crisis
18 February 2025
The Guardian
“Most politicians on the centre-left and centre-right recognise that immigration is needed to ease demographic pressures,” said John Springford, an associate fellow at the Centre for European Reform think-tank. “They have sought to focus on tougher – and often inhumane – asylum rules in the hope that stricter border enforcement will provide political cover for higher regular immigration.
Here’s why Trump wants to make Ukraine a US economic colony
18 February 2025
The Telegraph
“I think this is going to go down pretty badly in Europe,” says Ian Bond, a former British diplomat who is deputy director of the London-based Centre for European Reform. “Trump basically appears to be acting as though the Americans have the right to seize Ukraine’s national assets, in return for the assistance that they have given so far.
Cacciatori e prede
14 February 2025
Corriere della Sera
Gli economisti Sander Tordoir e Brad Setser ricordano che il primo «choc cinese» all’inizio del secolo falcidiò l’industria del tessile e degli elettrodomestici in Italia, ma il secondo sta falcidiando l’industria dell’auto in Germania. Dal 2019 al 2023 la quota di mercato dei modelli tedeschi di alta gamma in Cina è collassata dal 79% al 45% e il crollo non è finito.
US allies seek clarity on Ukraine support at Munich Security Conference
13 February 2025
Voice of America
US allies sense a change in tone from the president since his inauguration last month, said Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, a London-based research group.“Though Trump has said a lot of things to worry a lot of people on tariffs, on trade, on Gaza and so on, he hasn't yet said anything particularly crazy from a European point of view about Ukraine or NATO. He hasn't repeated his threat to pull out of NATO. He said the Europeans should spend more [on defense] but most of us agree with him on that. He hasn't said he's going to cut off all aid for Ukraine,” Grant told VOA.
For the EU, a Trump White House is a lurch into new territory
13 February 2025
Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty
“The next few years could be very dangerous for Europe’s stability and security, and will put the transatlantic relationship - which has benefited US as well as European interests for the last 80 years - under extreme, perhaps terminal strain,” said Ian Bond, deputy director from the London-based Center for European Reform.
NPO Radio 1: Hoe kunnen Nederland en Europa meer investeren in defensie?
13 February 2025
De NAVO-ministers van Defensie zijn vandaag bijeen in Brussel. Hoog op de agenda staat verhoging van de militaire uitgaven. Want steeds duidelijker wordt dat Europa op eigen benen moet kunnen staan. Maar investeren in defensie gaat vele miljarden kosten. En dus is de vraag: hoe gaan we dat in Nederland en in Europa betalen? Een gesprek met Bert Colijn, econoom bij ING en met Sander Tordoir van de denktank Centre for European Reform in Berlijn.
Why Europe is struggling to fill its investment gap
12 February 2025
EurActiv
“Some common debt may be unavoidable but it is controversial, even if it is only used for productivity-increasing investments in EU public goods such as breakthrough innovations, defence and cross-border energy infrastructure,” analysts at the Centre for European Reform wrote in a recent report.
EU plots strategy for dealing with Donald Trump's tariffs blitz
07 February 2025
The Times
Allied economies could include Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia and the UK in a “G6 plus” model, says Sander Tordoir, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform.
Podcasts
CER Podcast: Unpacking Europe: How can Europe survive Trump's tariffs and a second China shock?
05 February 2025
Sander Tordoir and Zselyke Csaky discuss Trump's tariffs and the second China shock.
CER Podcast: Unpacking Europe: Trump's inauguration: What's next?
24 January 2025
Luigi Scazzieri, Ian Bond and Constanze Stelzenmueller discuss Donald Trump's inauguration.
CER Podcast: Unpacking Europe: The EU in 2024
18 December 2024
Six of our researchers reflect on the past year and look ahead to 2025.
CER Podcast: Unpacking Europe: Labour's plan for the EU
28 November 2024
Charles Grant and Stella Creasy discuss Labour's plan for forging closer ties with the EU.
CER Podcast: Unpacking Europe: What does Trump mean for European security?
12 November 2024
Luigi Scazzieri, Ian Bond and Sophia Besch discuss the impact of Trump on European security.
Events
Hybrid discussion on 'What future for Ukraine?'
19 February 2025
London
With Iuliia Osmolovska and Richard Shirreff. Watch the video of the event here.
CER/HSF hybrid discussion on 'Implications of the German election for the UK' with Markus Ferber, Christine Heuer, Marion Messmer and Christoph Meyer
24 February 2025
Hybrid London/Zoom
Please email events@cer.eu for further information including how to register.
Dinner on 'Preserving competition at the digital frontier'
05 February 2025
Brussels
With Benoît Cœuré, President, Autorité de la Concurrence
CER/HSF hybrid discussion on 'Von der Leyen's second term: What future for the European Commission?'
09 December 2024
Hybrid London/Zoom
With Marco Buti and Catherine Day. Watch the video of the event here.
CER/Kreab breakfast on 'UK-EU reset: Progress and ambitions'
27 November 2024
Brussels
With Lindsay Croisdale-Appleby, UK Ambassador to the EU