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The European Union requires up to 800 billion euros ($884 billion) in additional investment annually to meet its competitiveness and climate targets, as stated in a report by economist and politician Mario Draghi. The report highlights the need for the EU to address weak economic growth and productivity compared to other global powers. Priorities outlined in the report include reducing energy prices, enhancing competitiveness, coordinating industrial policy, and increasing defense investment. Additionally, the EU must adapt to a changing world where dependencies are turning into vulnerabilities, especially in critical areas like minerals and supply chains. To secure its future, the EU must develop a comprehensive foreign economic policy and focus on harnessing domestic resources through mining, recycling, and innovation. The report also emphasizes the importance of fully implementing the single market, addressing trade friction, and ensuring that competition policy does not hinder progress, particularly in the technology sector. To meet the substantial investment needs identified, a mix of private finance and public support is essential. The report suggests reforms to research and development funding and policy to address the EU’s innovation deficit. Streamlining policy harmonization and funding focus, especially in clean technology development, are crucial for the EU’s competitiveness. Recommendations to mobilize private finance include transforming the European Securities and Markets Authority into a single regulator for all EU securities markets. Simplifying the policymaking process by limiting voting requirements is also proposed. Public and private investments are constrained by the EU’s budget size, lack of focus, and risk aversion. Looming debt repayments from the NextGenerationEU Covid-19 recovery program could impact the EU’s spending power unless new resources are secured. Areas like defense projects and cross-border grids may require common funding, necessitating the issuance of common safe assets and capital market integration. The report’s call for increased investment to meet defense, digitalization, and decarbonization targets aligns with European Commission estimates of requiring 750 to 800 billion euros annually. The report, commissioned by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, sets the stage for crucial debates on the EU’s future. However, analysts caution that political challenges and fragmentation among member states could hinder the implementation of proposed reforms. Despite the potential for significant market impact, Europe’s political landscape, characterized by populism and national incompetence, may impede progress on the outlined recommendations.

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