MED V – The Future of EU Prosperity: Addressing the Modernization Challenge

from the Fifth Mercator European Dialogue, 2018

The confluence of globalization, digitalization, technological advances and demographic change are radically reconfiguring the socio-economic fiber of our societies. Our network discusses 'what next?' for the European Union.

from the Fifth Mercator European Dialogue, 2018

The European industrial landscape is facing a projected shortage of ICT skills and associated competitive innovation. Sustainable economic transformations in the sector are essential for EU economic prosperity in the future.

from the Fifth Mercator European Dialogue, 2018

Digital change, technological innovation, and globalization are having implications on citizens' lives, their privacy and for society as a whole, with both dangers and promises for progress. How do we safeguard ethics in artificial intelligence?

from the Fifth Mercator European Dialogue, 2018

If the economy contracts in the future, would this necessarily be a disaster? Europe could have the consumption levels of the 1980s or 1990s but with a higher quality of life. What do we want from long-term sustainability?

from the Fifth Mercator European Dialogue, 2018

For some member states unemployment is a pressing and urgent policy and political challenge demanding short-term solutions. For others it is a challenge only in the context of the long-term economic transformation of societies.

from Fifth Mercator European Dialogue, 2018

Copy-pasting certain models of work across the EU would be counterproductive between member states with a completely different economic make-up. Following an overly unified model could end the European project.

from Fifth Mercator European Dialogue, 2018

Educational reform in European countries requires a new mindset, one that embraces the notion that education and training does not stop at the high school or higher education level but will require a life-long investment.

from the Fifth Mercator European Dialogue, 2018

Current European tax systems need reform as they are ill-suited for an increasingly digital era, are not well-protected against the ongoing erosion of tax-bases and tax evasion, and are not used strategically to further political goals.

from the Fifth Mercator European Dialogue

Industrial policies in the EU were found to be insufficient to foster innovation and long-term competitiveness of European products, highlighting the need for an integrated European industrial policy from national parliaments.