The EU is pursuing an increasingly activist industrial policy. Amid rising global competition, the aim is to create a level playing field for EU and non-EU firms and to strengthen European companies in the global market. Harry Flam, senior advisor at SIEPS, examines the flagship projects in the fields of semiconductors and batteries and finds it unlikely that they will succeed. (2022:1epa)

 The common currency, the euro, and the common monetary policy were introduced in the EU in 1999 to improve the internal market, under the slogan “One Market, One Money”. It was expected that the common currency would promote more trade and investment between the countries that joined the European currency union.