Not that anyone asked me, but I think the proposed Queen Elisabeth Memorial looks rather tasteful and that equestrian statues are for conquerors or those who want to be portrayed as such.
Aslak Berg
@aslak.bsky.social
Trade, public policy, economics, , formerly research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, Norwegian and EFTA civil servant
First week for me after leaving the CER and good to see that nothing important or dramatic is happening that I would have wanted to write about.
My take on the Australia deal has mellowed a little in hindsight. Yes, the UK probably gave away more than it needed to, but in the end that was probably in line with the policy preferences of the gov't at the time. And I don't think Australia had much more of value to offer in any case.
Reading the Hobbit for the first time in decades and reminded what an excellent writer Tolkien could be, with long, fluid, vibrant sentences that seem to engage you in conversation. None of these short, bland and limp sentences so fashionable these days - just a joy to read. Merry Christmas!
Celebrating Christmas by fixing a leaky kitchen sink. Pro tip: get one of those silicon trays under your sink to protect from water damage
Reflections on the European Council decision to borrow €90 billion and lend it to Ukraine. Tl; dr: Ukraine benefits, but not enough; Putin & Trump will be encouraged; the EU & individual member-states have shown that it’s still too easy to intimidate them. 🧵1/13
The 2025-6 Clara Marina O'Donnell fellow, @thomasmaddock.bsky.social , with his first insight for @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social, on the EU's failed approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict - a topic close to Clara's own heart.
Centre for European Reform@centreeuropeanref.bsky.social · 8mo agoThe EU has leverage over Israel and the Palestinian Authority. But internal divisions and damaged credibility have blunted its leverage. How can the EU fix its broken Israel-Palestine policy? New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social piece by @thomasmaddock.bsky.social Read here: buff.ly/eN3ueIG
Often, Berlin is the main veto player when it comes to decisive EU action. But this week, for once, Berlin is a key driver of getting both the reparations loan and Mercosur over the finish line. This time, the EU's ability to act act fully hinges on Rome's and Paris's will to jump.
It's been a rough year for European trade policy. The deal with the US, disputes with China and an overall sense of a worsening economic climate. My latest piece tries to draw out some lessons for Europe www.cer.eu/insights/thr...
Three hard lessons for European trade
Global trade policy is now dominated by great power politics, putting Europe under pressure. The EU will have to accommodate the US, confront China and derisk from both.
cer.eu
Europe must boost its productivity through adopting foreign technologies - while also boosting its economic security. Can it manage both at once? New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social policy brief by @aslak.bsky.social & @zach-meyers.bsky.social Read here: buff.ly/GyzXI4o
The Trump administration's industrial policy U-turn and aggressive trade policy are reshaping global clean tech markets. For EU manufacturers, it's a tale of two shocks: falling US demand + surging Chinese competition. Our new policy brief discusses what's happening and what Europe needs to do 🧵
Centre for European Reform@centreeuropeanref.bsky.social · 8mo agoBetween a rock and a hard place: Europe's clean tech industry is caught between Trump’s policies and Chinese pressure. #cleantech New policy brief by @lucas-res-car.bsky.social, @elisabettaco.bsky.social, @etiennehoera.d-64.social & @ph-jaeg.bsky.social. Read here: buff.ly/mzBkqRa
When I finished writing this a couple of weeks ago, I didn't expect that the US would set out in its National Security Strategy how it could help Putin achieve his goals.
Centre for European Reform@centreeuropeanref.bsky.social · 8mo ago#Russia has made two failed attempts to get the West to accept a Russian sphere of influence in Eastern Europe by diplomatic means. Now #Putin is intent on creating a sphere of influence by force. 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social paper by @cerianbond.bsky.social Read here: buff.ly/gzMAkk4
Every time I’m in Sweden I’m profoundly disturbed by this book store’s completely ungrammatical name
This is a good paper from @aslak.bsky.social and CER colleagues on aligning productivity and security, particularly on the prioritisation that will be essential in considering dependencies, and the need to continue to be competitive globally. mailings.cer.eu/publications...
Resilient growth: Aligning productivity and security
The European Competitiveness Fund could be a powerful tool to improve the EU's economic security. But the proposal needs reform to avoid pitting security and growth against each other.
mailings.cer.eu
📅 JOIN US - 10/12/25: @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social /Swedish Enterprise discussion on 'Resilient Growth: Aligning Productivity and Security' with @aslak.bsky.social, @zach-meyers.bsky.social, Lotta Nymann-Lindegren, Maive Rute & Yannick Treige Email: brussels@cer.eu for info and registration
Do check out our new report - and come join us in Brussels for a round table discussion on it on Wednesday!
Centre for European Reform@centreeuropeanref.bsky.social · 8mo agoThe European Competitiveness Fund risks pitting economy security and economic growth against each other. In a new @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social /Swedish Enterprise policy brief, @aslak.bsky.social & @zach-meyers.bsky.social propose a toolkit to unlock the ECF's potential buff.ly/GyzXI4o
There's something here about the distance between politics and experts, because it isn't as if any of us are hard to find to say this Labour Customs Union chatter is going nowhere
Aslak Berg@aslak.bsky.social · 8mo agoIs there a trade expert out there arguing for a UK-EU customs union? I think it’s fair to say that @davidheniguk.bsky.social @samuelmarclowe.bsky.social and myself are hardly Euroskeptics, and while we emphasise different things in talking about a CU the conclusion is unanimous.
Is there a trade expert out there arguing for a UK-EU customs union? I think it’s fair to say that @davidheniguk.bsky.social @samuelmarclowe.bsky.social and myself are hardly Euroskeptics, and while we emphasise different things in talking about a CU the conclusion is unanimous.
@samuelmarclowe.bsky.social has a good discussion on customs unions in his newsletter. Just a couple points: the below is true, but I don't think it matters all that much - since if the UK wanted to impose significantly higher tariffs than the EU, it would presumably to reroute trade through the EU.
Come join us in Brussels next week!
Centre for European Reform@centreeuropeanref.bsky.social · 8mo ago📅 JOIN US - 10/12/25: @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social /Swedish Enterprise discussion on 'Resilient Growth: Aligning Productivity and Security' with @aslak.bsky.social, @zach-meyers.bsky.social, Lotta Nymann-Lindegren, Maive Rute & Yannick Treige Email: brussels@cer.eu for info and registration
Come join us in Brussels next week!
Centre for European Reform@centreeuropeanref.bsky.social · 8mo ago📅 JOIN US - 10/12/25: @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social /Swedish Enterprise discussion on 'Resilient Growth: Aligning Productivity and Security' with @aslak.bsky.social, @zach-meyers.bsky.social, Lotta Nymann-Lindegren, Maive Rute & Yannick Treige Email: brussels@cer.eu for info and registration
Exxon-Mobil (current market cap): $488B Norway GDP (2025 est): $517B Dispersed by TARP to rescue the financial system (adjusted for inflation): $667B Saudi Arabia GDP (2025 est): $1268B Amount OpenAI is on the hook for that’ll ruin companies’ balance sheets if OpenAI can’t make good: $1400B
Everyone is unhappy, directly or indirectly, with the fact that everyone else didn't get enough kids to support the elderly in the way and at the cost we expect. And politics gets the blame.
David Henig@davidheniguk.bsky.social · 8mo agoI'm not sure a squeezed middle isn't an almost inevitable consequence of demographics. There are 13 million pensioners in the UK. Compared to 25 million full time workers. Do the maths, it won't be pretty however you cut it.
📅 JOIN US - 10/12/25: @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social /Swedish Enterprise discussion on 'Resilient Growth: Aligning Productivity and Security' with @aslak.bsky.social, @zach-meyers.bsky.social, Lotta Nymann-Lindegren, Maive Rute & Yannick Treige Email: brussels@cer.eu for info and registration
On customs unions and sovereignty. I'd add that we're in new era of weaponised trade.
Aslak Berg@aslak.bsky.social · 9mo agoThere's a prevailing idea in the UK that a customs union with the EU would be a compromise solution if single market membership is not possible, e.g @eddavey.libdems.org.uk and @jonathanfreedland.bsky.social recently. But a customs union is, from a trade policy, a more radical step. (1/N)
Wonderful write-up by @erikfossingnielsen.bsky.social on a fascinating fiery debate at CERs annual economics conference this weekend (so fast Erik!) Should Europe use incentives to pull some of our capital exports back home rather than fund Americas deficits? independenteconomics.substack.com
Sunday Wrap by Erik F. Nielsen | IndependentEconomics | Substack
I write about economics, policies and markets - trying to connect the dots. Click to read Sunday Wrap by Erik F. Nielsen, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.
independenteconomics.substack.com
Great thread on why the idea of a UK-EU customs union is a non-starter. (I'd add that the proposed Common Food Safety Area also provides potential to ease a significant number of burdens that being outside the SM and CU created)
Aslak Berg@aslak.bsky.social · 9mo agoThere's a prevailing idea in the UK that a customs union with the EU would be a compromise solution if single market membership is not possible, e.g @eddavey.libdems.org.uk and @jonathanfreedland.bsky.social recently. But a customs union is, from a trade policy, a more radical step. (1/N)
There's a prevailing idea in the UK that a customs union with the EU would be a compromise solution if single market membership is not possible, e.g @eddavey.libdems.org.uk and @jonathanfreedland.bsky.social recently. But a customs union is, from a trade policy, a more radical step. (1/N)