Európai Tükör

Before Sunset

Kecsmár Krisztián — 2025-04-11

Are External Values to Competition Law Taken into Consideration by Judges in Recent Competition-Related Case Law of the Court of Justice of the European Union?

Kecsmár Krisztián — 2025-04-11

The borrowing of concepts from other areas of law to interpret the rules of the area of law that the person is entitled to enforce is a relatively new phenomenon in EU competition law judgements of the CJEU. The digitalisation aspect characterised by fast and constant technical developments indisputably provided an occasion for EU judges to turn to external values in their judgements related to competition law. This aimed to cope with new challenges necessitating the incorporation of exogenous values by EU judges in the field of competition law. A spectacular illustration of such trend is the Meta Platforms Case in which the CJEU judgement came out in July 2023. Other novelties can, however, also appear even in the absence of rapid technical evolution necessitating the same recourse to external values, such as in relation to sport-related cases of Superleague, ISU and Royal Antwerp. The present paper aims to find the answer to what extent external values can be borrowed from other areas of law, by illustrating the cases mentioned above, which are limited to this aspect only, in order to allow EU judges to incorporate them into their competition law analysis.

Cohesion and Competitiveness in CEE

Navracsics Tibor — 2025-04-11

The admission of Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries to the European Union (EU) caused significant economic growth, yet achieving sustained competitiveness within the EU continues to present difficulties. The paper analyses the competitiveness of CEE economies within the EU context, emphasising the effects of EU cohesion and development policies, energy transition initiatives and developments in digital infrastructure. This work examines the distinct economic and structural issues confronting CEE nations, utilising ideas from major EU papers such as The Future of European Competitiveness (Draghi Report), Much More than a Market (Letta Report) and the Ninth Cohesion Report. Particular attention is given to energy dependency, regional digital divides and the socio-economic impact of green transitions on traditionally coal-reliant economies.

Our analysis utilises statistical data – such as GDP growth, renewable energy adoption rates and digital readiness scores – to evaluate policy effectiveness. Statistical analyses of NUTS-2 areas in Hungary and Poland reveal regional disparities, emphasising the relationship between EU funding allocations and improvements in economic indicators such as internet accessibility and renewable energy adoption. Findings indicate that centralised governance structures and regional variations in CEE nations limit the effectiveness of EU initiatives, highlighting the necessity for localised, adaptable approaches in cohesion policy. This study adds to ongoing policy debates on the competitiveness of CEE countries by highlighting key areas where strategic investments can help create a more cohesive and sustainable Single Market with a view to the corresponding role of EU funding programmes.

Abandoning the Obsession of Infinite Growth to Ensure a Sustainable Future in Europe

Csepeli Réka — 2025-04-11

The issue of the contradiction between sustainability and unlimited economic growth has long been a concern for environmentalists and some economists. However, the approach that interprets and uses the theses laid out in the Club of Rome’s Limits to Growth work as a starting point and examines ecological and economic aspects in terms of the necessary paradigm shift is by no means universally accepted.
The best example of this is the European approach that interprets strengthening competitiveness through re-industrialisation and technology-saving solutions. The European Green Deal,2 launched in 2019 as the EU’s growth strategy, carries this contradiction in itself. This package of policy measures, intended to launch the green transition process, aims to lay the foundation for achieving the climate neutrality target set for 2050. This article explores the inherent contradictions between these two paradigms, examining the tensions between economic growth, resource consumption and environmental sustainability. By analysing economic theories, environmental challenges and alternative models, this paper argues that the pursuit of unrestrained economic growth is incompatible with the long-term health of the planet. The article concludes by suggesting pathways toward reconciling economic development with ecological preservation through the adoption of sustainable economic models and systems of environmental governance.

Social and Labour Market Impacts of the Green Transition in the European Union

Tóth Tibor — 2025-04-11

One of the key challenges of the decarbonisation process to mitigate climate change is how to maintain labour market balance and safeguard social welfare policies during the green transition linked to digitalisation and demographic change. While many jobs in carbon-intensive sectors are being lost or transformed, there is an increasingly obvious shortage of skilled workers in green sectors. An overview of the social and labour market impacts and trends of the green transition is hampered by the fact that a generally accepted approach and conceptual framework for the concept of green jobs has not yet been developed, and its embeddedness in the labour market is assessed based on different methodological measures. Drawing on the relevant literature, surveys and databases, the paper argues that the EU’s ‘just transition’ initiative is an essential tool and precondition for the green transition, which requires both the mapping of processes that facilitate the adaptation of labour market mechanisms and the tailor-made use of surveys that underpin evidence-based approaches.

Bridging the Digital Divide: Pathways to a Competitive and Resilient European Union

Fási Csaba — 2025-04-11

Digitalisation is a key driver of economic transformation, influencing productivity, competitiveness and social inclusion across the European Union (EU). This study examines the macroeconomic impact of digitalisation, focusing on digital skills, digital business integration, digital infrastructures and the digitalisation of public services. The research explores the correlation between digitalisation and economic growth indicators such as labour productivity, gross value added (GVA) and exports, offering a comprehensive analysis of the EU’s digital transition. Previous studies highlight the role of digitalisation in fostering innovation and improving efficiency, particularly through the integration of advanced technologies and digital infrastructures. However, digital disparities among EU Member States remain a challenge, necessitating coordinated policies to bridge the digital divide and ensure equitable access to digital benefits. This study contributes to the existing literature by analysing these disparities and assessing how digital transformation can support economic convergence and sustainability goals in the EU. Using a systematic review of academic literature and macroeconomic data, the study identifies key factors that drive digital competitiveness. Findings indicate that digital skills development, business digitalisation and strategic investments in digital infrastructure significantly enhance economic performance. Furthermore, digital public services play a crucial role in social inclusion, particularly in addressing youth unemployment and ensuring equitable access to opportunities. The results underscore the need for targeted policies that promote digital adoption across all EU regions, ensuring that the benefits of digitalisation extend beyond leading economies. By aligning digital strategies with broader economic and sustainability objectives, the EU can enhance its global competitiveness while fostering inclusive and resilient growth.

The Transformation of the European Car Industry

Kossuth Ádám Ferenc — 2025-04-11

The European automotive industry faces many 21^st.century challenges, with sustainability and climate protection as key objectives. Among these, the European Parliament’s decision to mandate zero emission passenger cars and light commercial vehicles from 2035 marks a transformative shift. This cornerstone of the “Fit for 55” climate package carries broad economic, social and political implications, requiring significant adjustments across the automotive value chain and presenting major hurdles for stakeholders.
This manuscript explores the sector’s electrification efforts, focusing on the tension between sustainability goals and economic impacts. It highlights disparities in electric vehicle affordability and accessibility across Europe, which risk deepening socio-economic inequalities, and questions the environmental and equity outcomes of weight-based regulatory incentives favouring premium models.
Beyond assessing the feasibility of emissions targets, the study critically examines whether the EU’s focus on electric vehicles aligns with broader climate goals or creates new challenges. Addressing these issues aims to illuminate the immediate and long-term implications for the evolution of the automotive industry and Europe’s socio-economic landscape.

Rightward Shift vs. EU Climate Policy

Tóth Bettina — 2025-04-11

The summer of 2024 brought a number of twists and turns for the future of green policy; finally, there was no change in the President of the European Commission, which partly guarantees the continuity of the European Green Deal. But a paradigm shift from the previous political priorities has been done so far, such as putting economic growth and European competitiveness at the top of the agenda. At the same time, there was a major reshuffle in the European Parliament with the emergence of the Patriots for Europe; this group has a rather different approach to the policy.
This analysis examines the likely direction of EU climate policy over the next five years, in relation with the emergence of the Patriots for Europe as the third largest political force and the significant loss of the Greens, moreover, with the re-prioritisation of the new Commission after the 2024 European Parliament elections.