In this edition, we ask why the EU economy lags the US and China, and hear of the Commission’s bitter battle with Big Tech.
This week, we are joined by Dharmendra Kanani, from the progressive think tank Friends of Europe, Alva Finn, from the European Liberal Forum and Connor Allen, a corporate lobbyist based in Brussels.
“Do this or it is a slow agony”, the words of the former ECB president Mario Draghi this week whilst presenting his report on boosting growth in the EU. Our panel reacted to this 170 ideas including his plan for 750 billion euros of investment.
Connor Allen was not impressed with his calls for spending.
“The only sensible thing to do is put power in the hands of businesses and organisations who are responsive to the people’, he suggested. But Dharmenda Kanini disagreed.
“What we’ve seen is in the past 50 years, the market doesn’t solve the problems. What would have happened if the government had deregulated during Covid?”, he said.
The panel also reacted to the European Court of Justice ruling this week that said Apple should pay the Irish government back 13 billion in unpaid tax.
Alva Finn told the panel that the Irish government fought this ruling ‘tooth and nail’.
“They (the Irish government) won’t be happy because Ireland is benefiting massively from having multinationals”, she said.
Finally, the panel reflected on the Harris-Trump debate that was watched by 67m people.
‘“Trump won”, Connor Allen said, criticising the moderation team.
“They were throwing softballs to Kamala, and in fact on the economy.”, he said.
Dharmenda Kanani insisted that Kamala Harris was the clear winner.
“He (Trump) says a number of things about the fact that immigrants eat cats and dogs. Are you with that? That lie? Are you with that lie?”.
Watch the lively episode in the player above.
