Program

The European Enterprise

Large listed companies perform poorly. Investments are lackluster, return on invested capital is shrinking and productivity growth is declining. Economists profoundly disagree about diagnosis and remedies, politicians are concerned but at a loss about policy. Meanwhile, the days of easy money to fuel economic growth are numbered.
 
It is time to explore a new direction by focusing on the positioning, the governance, and the management of these companies.
Donald Kalff - Hidden treasures - The European Enterprise
Donald Kalff - Hidden treasures

Program

Best practice in open innovation requires that the book is no longer ours, it is now in the public domain. You are cordially invited to add to the stock of Hidden Treasures and to think of initiatives and policies to make them more visible and to increase their impact. Regarding the Hidden Treasures in the book we hope that you will scrutinize our recommendations, expand on some, advice against others and add new ones.

In developing the program Andrea and I and our, initially, modest staff seek to make the following contributions:

* We use our experience in the fields of technology standards, corporate governance and trade and investment respectively by following up recommendations in chapters 10, 3 and 9. Work is already under way on “European Values an IT”, about the incorporation of ethics and sustainability in digital technologies, on “The European Enterprise”, the first corporate design that avoids the serious flaws of both shareholder- and the stakeholder models, and EU free and fair trade regarding improvements to the EU rules on subsidies and trade defence instruments (TDIs), with the possible integration of references to non-economic objectives, as well as the EU constructive contribution to the reform of the WTO dispute settlement system.

* We will act as honest brokers to bring parties together whose cooperation is required to follow up on the many other recommendations.

* We will provide advice, but no guidance, to each and every party that wants adopt a recommendation.

* We will record initiatives from politicians, policymakers, regulators and academics and we will distribute lessons learned.

* Over time, we see the emergence of portfolio of related initiatives in different stages of development, ranging from loose ideas that need to be tested, all the way to a specific Commission proposals ready for Parliamentary approval. We seek to increase the value of this portfolio of options to be exercised when conditions for proper implementation are full filled. This form of portfolio management is part of our alternative approach to policy making.

IT governance in the EU

Large listed companies perform poorly. Investments are lackluster, return on invested capital is shrinking and productivity growth is declining. Economists profoundly disagree about diagnosis and remedies, politicians are concerned but at a loss about policy. Meanwhile, the days of easy money to fuel economic growth are numbered.
 
It is time to explore a new direction by focusing on the positioning, the governance, and the management of these companies.

■  Current projects

The European Enterprise

Large listed companies perform poorly. Investments are lackluster, return on invested capital is shrinking and productivity growth is declining. Economists profoundly disagree about diagnosis and remedies, politicians are concerned but at a loss about policy. Meanwhile, the days of easy money to fuel economic growth are numbered and fiscal stimuli are hard to come by. It is time to explore a new direction by focusing on the positioning, the governance, and the management of these companies. The days of macro economics are drawing to a close, welcome micro economics.

European values and IT

Exploration of ways for Europe to incorporate ethics and sustainability in the development of AI, IoT and other digital technologies and to lead the global dialogue on responsible innovation and practices in digital technologies. Europe’s should consolidate and expand its lead.

EU free and fair trade

Assessment of necessary improvements to the EU rules on subsidies and trade defence instruments (i.e., goods and possibly services), including the possible integration of references to non-economic objectives, taking into account the geo-economic tensions (i.e., state capitalism), the position of SMEs and global collective action problems.

Evaluation of EU’s positive contribution to the reform of the WTO dispute settlement system, including the Multi-Party Interim Appeal-Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA), which it is and should continue to be leading with other WTO Members.

■  Public consultation

New EU Industrial and SME Strategies: Hidden Treasures' comments and recommendations

In two recent Communications adopted on 10 March 2020 on A New Industrial Strategy for Europe and An SME Strategy for a sustainable and digital Europe, the European Commission highlighted its ambitions regarding Europe’s transition towards climate neutrality and digital leadership. Both Strategies appear nested in Europe’s competitive advantages: these include a strong internal market, an unprecedented large number of modern trade agreements, a vibrant and successful competition policy, a world-leading industry, and a large number of innovative SMEs. These are European strongholds that rely on a rules-based system and a balanced approach to the social market economy.

In this perspective, the Hidden Treasures Program, aimed at uncovering additional European sources of competitive advantage, has developed a number of policy recommendations that make, in our opinion, a significant contribution to the effective implementation of the New Industrial Strategy and the SME Strategy.

In line with Hidden Treasures’ open, participatory approach, you are cordially invited to send us your observations regarding our comments and recommendations on the New EU Industrial and SME Strategies to malorie.schaus@ceps.eu.

New EU Pharmaceutical Strategy: Hidden Treasures' comments and recommendations

The European Commission launched this summer an open public consultation with a view to establish a New EU Pharmaceutical Strategy.

Hidden Treasures took this opportunity to reply to the consultation. Please find its replies to the questionnaire here, and its further comments and recommendations here.

In line with Hidden Treasures’ open, participatory approach, you are cordially invited to send us your observations to malorie.schaus@ceps.eu