S5 Ep25: Director's Cut: Wrapping up 2018

With 2018 drawing to a close, and the dawn of 2019
imminent, Bruegel's scholars reflect on the economic policy
developments we can expect in the new year – one that brings with
it the additional uncertainty of European elections.


These elections will be a bellwether for the continent-wide rise
of populist politics that has been a defining characteristic of
the year past. The results will certainly have profound
consequences for all policy debates within the EU, but also for
the bloc's relationship with external partners. The shifts in the
geopolitical landscape have borne a trade war, prompting renewed
talk of closer ties between China and the EU, the potential
internationalisation of the euro, and how the multilateral
trading system might be saved, reformed, or left behind.


Meanwhile, 2019 promises fierce debate of the next EU budget for
2020-2027, not entirely separate from the mooted euro-area budget
and the ongoing efforts at euro-area reform and expansion. The
upcoming elections will be pivotal in determining the complexion
of these discussions as the year progresses.


Speakers: 


Maria Demertzis


Jean Pisani-Ferry


Francesco Papadia


Elina Ribakova


André Sapir


Nicolas Véron


Thomas Wieser


Guntram Wolff