In September 2024, the European Competitiveness Report was presented. It highlighted the critical need for Europe to become more productive, warning that without productivity growth, Europe would have to choose between being a leader in technology, climate responsibility, and maintaining social funding. The report emphasizes that Europe’s core values—prosperity, equality, freedom, peace, and democracy—are at risk if productivity doesn’t improve.

The report also addresses food security concerns, including the risks posed by the use of pesticides, and underscores the need for reform in the EU’s budgetary allocations. „Currently, significant portions of the EU’s 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework are allocated to cohesion policy (30.5%) and the Common Agricultural Policy (30.9%). However, the EU’s annual budget, which is just over 1% of the EU’s GDP, is spread across almost 50 spending programs, limiting its capacity to finance large-scale, pan-European projects.”

In June 2025, the European Commission is set to present a new plan for the Multiannual Financial Framework, along with the allocation of public funds within EU policies. The report serves as an important review of the EU’s decision-making and investment strategies.

Credit: European Parliament