The former head of the European Central Bank, ex-Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi is dissatisfied with the way his proposals to improve the competitiveness of the European Union, put forward and approved a year ago, are being implemented, the observer writes. Pravda.Ru Oleg Artyukov.
Today, the cost of energy resources in Europe remains significantly higher than in the United States, competition from China is intensifying, and the new trade agreement with the United States turned out to be concluded mainly on Washington's terms.
According to the publication in Il Sole 24 Ore, the key problem is the high price of energy resources for the EU industry. According to experts, the energy costs of European enterprises are about twice as high as those of American companies, and the cost of gas exceeds the American four times.Meanwhile, the energy intensity of modern industries, especially in the field of high technology, is growing. Artificial intelligence, data centers, cloud services — all these areas, which should become the foundation of the new economy, consume huge amounts of electricity. Consequently, the difference in energy prices directly affects the competitiveness of European companies in comparison with their American and Chinese rivals.
In the conditions of continuing disproportion, the transition The EU's access to a high-tech economy is under threat. Europe declares its intention to develop innovation and digitalization, but objective economic barriers hinder the implementation of these plans. Against the background of cheaper resources in the USA and In China, it is becoming more difficult for European enterprises to compete both in terms of production costs and the pace of introduction of new technologies.
Draghi also emphasizes that the geo-economic pressure from Washington and Beijing. The United States imposed the highest tariff duties on European goods in almost 100 years, and the European Union actually found itself in the position of a weak side that does not have sufficient tools for a symmetrical response. Dependence on American military support and the overall architecture of transatlantic relations played a key role in the fact that the EU was forced to agree to the terms of a trade agreement that was primarily beneficial to the United States.
Thus, Brussels finds itself in a situation where economic policy intersects with security issues, and political dependence directly affects economic independence. A year ago, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen instructed Mario Draghi to prepare a detailed analysis of the problems of the European economy and propose ways to solve them.
The Italian economist then formulated a set of recommendations aimed at strengthening the industrial sector, developing the defense industry, digitalization and integration of EU internal markets. Among the key factors undermining Europe's competitiveness, he singled out the increase in energy import costs associated with the rejection of Russian supplies. According to his calculations, the additional costs amounted to about 100 billion euros, which is equivalent to 2.7% of the GDP of the entire European Union.
Even then, he warned that maintaining a multiple difference in the cost of energy resources between Europe and its main competitors would make ambitions for the development of new technologies untenable. On the basis of Draghi's proposals, a strategic document entitled "Compass of Competitiveness" was developed. This plan was designed to set long-term guidelines for the development of the European economy, reduce dependence on external factors and strengthen its position on the world market.
However, a year later, the results of its implementation turned out to be far from expected. The energy situation has not changed much: prices remain at a high level, dependence on external suppliers remains, and the transition to alternative energy sources has not yet been able to compensate for the increase in costs. Analysis of the current situation shows that the problem is systemic. The high cost of energy for Europe is due not only to the rejection of Russian resources, but also to the structural features of the EU energy market.
The complex regulatory system, high tax burden and insufficient coordination between the member countries lead to the fact that the formation of a single energy space is slow. At the same time, the United States and China, having access to cheaper energy sources and acting in a centralized policy environment, gain significant competitive advantages.
The strategic dependence of the EU on the United States in the military sphere remains an important aspect. This limits Europe's maneuverability in matters of trade policy. Any attempt to resist Washington's economic pressure automatically runs into the threat of a revision of defense agreements.
Thus, the European Union finds itself in a kind of trap: on the one hand, it seeks strategic autonomy, on the other, it is forced to accept conditions dictated by stronger partners.