Finance & economics | Following the herd

The battle for Europe’s economic soul

Policymakers in Brussels ready their response to America’s protectionism

Sheep graze in a field solar panels at the Weesow-Willmersdorf solar park, operated by EnBW Energie Baden-Wrttemberg AG, in Werneuchen, Germany, on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. The European Union seeking to double solar capacity to 320GW by 2025 and to hit 600GW by the end of the decadewhich would make solar Europe's biggest source of electricity, whereas today it's not even in the top five. Photographer: Liesa Johannssen-Koppitz/Bloomberg via Getty Images — Following the herdImage: Getty Images

Mar 23rd 2023

Over the past two weeks, a flurry of proposals to reshape Europe’s economic model has emerged from the Berlaymont, a cruciform building in Brussels, which is home to the European Commission. The commission usually fiercely guards the eu’s rules. But things are now in flux. The proposals contain ideas for how governments can help companies invest in green technology, cut reliance on dominant suppliers (read: China) and boost industry. On March 23rd, after we went to press, leaders from the eu’s 27 member states were due to come together to discuss the changes and set plans in motion.

This article appeared in the Finance & economics section of the print edition under the headline “The battle for Europe’s soul”