Zsolt Darvas from Bruegel, the economic “Think Tank” based in Brussels, analyzes in this article the use of the recovery funds of the European Union, finding how for some countries such as Spain or Italy "absorbing all these funds could be an immense challenge".
The article shows how Spain and Italy would only have used 39% and 40% respectively of the total of the European structural funds for the period 2014-2020. Both would be the countries with the lowest utilization rates (absorption rate) in the European Union as a whole and yet the largest beneficiaries of Next Generation EU recovery funds (NGEU).
That low absorption capacity of European funds, together with the fact that the NGEU recovery and resilience funds will have a much faster disbursement schedule than usual, will imply a huge challenge for some countries to spend them timely.
According to the author, absorbing these funds should not be an objective in itself, but to guarantee that they are used well: “Some countries might struggle to spend what they can get, even if they will have broad freedom to design spending programs. The focus should be on worthwhile spending, not just on absorbing EU funds”.
Filter results
According to Kristalina Georgeva IMF Managing Director, lifting growth requires three things: one, regulatory housecleaning to unleash private enterprise; two, deeper regional integration; and three, preparedness to harness AI.
According to The European House – Ambrosetti, the European Union has an opportunity to boost competitiveness and growth by simplifying regulatory and supervisory frameworks, particularly in the areas of sustainability and the financial sector.
According to Ramón Casilda Béjar, Spain, in today’s complex geopolitical landscape, has the opportunity to strengthen its role as a bridge and connecting country between Ibero-America and the European Union, revitalizing investment flows in both directions.
According to @ECB, in moments of acute stress, the public often turns to physical currency as a reliable store of value and a resilient means of payment, underscoring the crucial role it plays above and beyond everyday transactional convenience
According to Juan S. Mora-Sanguinetti, in Spain a 10% increase in regulatory volume leads to a 0.5% drop in employment in companies with fewer than 10 employees.
According to Hélène Rey “In a world where stablecoins, particularly those pegged to the dollar, become an important global payment tool, we must brace ourselves for substantial consequences”.
@judith_arnal proposes reforms for the EU to advance regulatory simplification, starting with consensus on its meaning, with competitiveness as a pillar, plus coordination mechanisms and a governance rethink.
According to @iee_org, Spain has one of the most demanding tax environments for businesses within the European and international context, which may have significant implications for competitiveness, foreign investment attraction, and business expansion.
According to Christine Lagarde for the euro to gain in status, Europe must take decisive steps by completing the single market, reducing regulatory burdens and building a robust capital markets union.
According to the Bank of Spain, in a context of strong growth in transactions and prices, the conditions under which new mortgage loans are granted currently show no signs of easing in lending standards.
McKinsey notes that European private capital is half the size of the U.S. and must play a key role in boosting competitiveness, by driving innovation, scaling firms, and mobilizing the investment needed to close the gap with other regions.
IMF states that global financial stability risks have grown significantly, driven by tighter financial conditions and heightened trade and geopolitical uncertainty.