The new book, Hidden Treasures, a joint effort between Donald Kalff and a group of CEPS researchers led by Andrea Renda, aims at identifying and exploring a number of “hidden treasures”, competitive advantages often covered by dust that could, if adequately nurtured, return the Old Continent to the forefront of the global order.

“Hidden treasures” are a feature of the EU economy, legal system or legal tradition that are being given insufficient attention in EU public policy, and which bear the potential to increase Europe’s competitiveness and overall positioning in the global context. The authors find them in ten policy domains, from contract law to corporate governance, taxation, control of corruption, competition policy, trade, innovation and the EU’s unique approach to governing the digital economy.

Uncovering and promoting hidden treasures becomes, as of today, a timely and highly needed exercise, as the EU approaches its post-elections transition, and the global governance contexts seems to be rapidly changing, shaping a new playing field in which Europe has no obvious allies, and is increasingly challenged by superpowers with different, if not diverging, priorities.