Using the Momentum for Real Change

The five-year term of office of the new European Commission begins on 1 December 2019 under Ursula von der Leyen. Professor Friedrich Heinemann, head of the ZEW Research Department “Corporate Taxation and Public Finance”, comments on this matter.

“Ursula von der Leyen and her team have been given a credit of trust by gaining a large majority in the European Parliament. The new Commission should definitely use this momentum to initiate real change. Demanding more money for climate and digitalisation issues simply isn’t enough. At the same time, the new President now has to question the old European status quo with spirit and rigour, and not be afraid to eliminate unnecessary subsidies.

The concentration of the EU budget on European added value cannot mean to continue to shower money on various regions and farmers. No matter how many tractors in Brussels or Berlin, von der Leyen must not be deterred from a change of course. In the future, money from the EU budget should only be available for policy fields that really ensure progress in 21st century Europe, not projects from the last century.”