János Allenbach-Ammann
@janosallamm.bsky.social
Brussels-based EU economic policy journalist for @table.media. Ab und zu ein Bericht mit Schweiz-Bezug im Hauptstadt-Bericht.
Formerly: Economy editor @ EURACTIV.
Formerly: Economy editor @ EURACTIV.
Reposted by János Allenbach-Ammann
(Once again) this is a Brexit reflection. ‘Global’ Britain was meant to mitigate losses from Brexit and surpass EU membership. That ‘vision’ was based on trade deals and liberalised ‘fair’ immigration. The latter is now being dismantled and the former relies on no defunct liberal multilateralism.
Trade folk (including myself) are unconvinced there is much of a growth dividend for Rachel Reeves from agreements with India, EU, and US. Just as there's no evidence of positive impact from independent UK trade policy since 2021. www.politico.eu/article/rach...
Rachel Reeves hopes trade deals can save Britain’s budget. Economists aren’t convinced.
With a difficult budget looming, the chancellor has increasingly turned her gaze overseas.
www.politico.eu
November 24, 2025 at 8:18 AM
(Once again) this is a Brexit reflection. ‘Global’ Britain was meant to mitigate losses from Brexit and surpass EU membership. That ‘vision’ was based on trade deals and liberalised ‘fair’ immigration. The latter is now being dismantled and the former relies on no defunct liberal multilateralism.
Interesting post. Again, what Europe needs is not super radical, but the timidity of the EU Commission and the stubbornness of member states will make these proposals for tax reform look outlandish.
My call for explicit policies in Europe to redirect the capital export to be invested in Europe instead of abroad.
open.substack.com/pub/independ...
open.substack.com/pub/independ...
Europe needs explicit policies to direct capital flows
My intervention at CER's Ditchley Park conference Friday-Saturday on 'Europe's precarious bid for third pole economic power': The need for explicit policies to redirect investments abroad to Europe.
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Interesting post. Again, what Europe needs is not super radical, but the timidity of the EU Commission and the stubbornness of member states will make these proposals for tax reform look outlandish.
Reposted by János Allenbach-Ammann
Wonderful write-up by @erikfossingnielsen.bsky.social on a fascinating fiery debate at CERs annual economics conference this weekend (so fast Erik!)
Should Europe use incentives to pull some of our capital exports back home rather than fund Americas deficits?
independenteconomics.substack.com
Should Europe use incentives to pull some of our capital exports back home rather than fund Americas deficits?
independenteconomics.substack.com
Sunday Wrap by Erik F. Nielsen | IndependentEconomics | Substack
I write about economics, policies and markets - trying to connect the dots. Click to read Sunday Wrap by Erik F. Nielsen, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.
independenteconomics.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Wonderful write-up by @erikfossingnielsen.bsky.social on a fascinating fiery debate at CERs annual economics conference this weekend (so fast Erik!)
Should Europe use incentives to pull some of our capital exports back home rather than fund Americas deficits?
independenteconomics.substack.com
Should Europe use incentives to pull some of our capital exports back home rather than fund Americas deficits?
independenteconomics.substack.com
Reposted by János Allenbach-Ammann
Reposted by János Allenbach-Ammann
Important - in a global order in which international rules are losing importance, one part of the emerging replacement is this neo-royalist approach involving interlinked states and companies. Once again, put away the deglobalisation simplisms.
1/This week has seen a blitz of what looks like corruption sandals: Saudi development deals for US military tech, Pakistani payments to Trump insiders for tariff relief, Swiss gold bars for a trade deal. Far from a payoff, this is a reordering of internat'l system.
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mxthh...
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mxthh...
www.dropbox.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Important - in a global order in which international rules are losing importance, one part of the emerging replacement is this neo-royalist approach involving interlinked states and companies. Once again, put away the deglobalisation simplisms.
Was die Schweizer Sozialdemokraten gegenüber vielen europäischen Schwesterparteien auszeichnet, ist m.E., dass sie nicht so verliebt in den Status quo ist und nicht so eingeschüchtert wirkt von potenziellen politischen und wirtschaftlichen Turbulenzen.
US-Zoll-Deal: So nicht, Herr Parmelin!
Nur wenn der Bundesrat spürt, dass die Schweizer Bevölkerung volle Transparenz verlangt, können wir verhindern, dass die Schweiz in einen schädlichen Deal gedrängt wird.
Trump-Deal jetzt stoppen: www.sp-ps.ch/kampagne/tru...
Nur wenn der Bundesrat spürt, dass die Schweizer Bevölkerung volle Transparenz verlangt, können wir verhindern, dass die Schweiz in einen schädlichen Deal gedrängt wird.
Trump-Deal jetzt stoppen: www.sp-ps.ch/kampagne/tru...
Jetzt Appell unterzeichnen – es bleiben uns 48 Stunden
Wir haben weniger als 48 Stunden Zeit. Immer deutlicher wird, dass SVP-Bundesrat Parmelin beim Trump-Deal entscheidende Punkte verschweigt. Am Mittwoch tagt der Bundesrat erneut. Bis dahin müssen wir ...
www.sp-ps.ch
November 19, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Was die Schweizer Sozialdemokraten gegenüber vielen europäischen Schwesterparteien auszeichnet, ist m.E., dass sie nicht so verliebt in den Status quo ist und nicht so eingeschüchtert wirkt von potenziellen politischen und wirtschaftlichen Turbulenzen.
The good thing about the slowness of the EU and its savings and investments union project is that significant amounts of savings will probably only start flowing into capital markets after the AI bubble bursts (if ever).
November 18, 2025 at 9:00 AM
The good thing about the slowness of the EU and its savings and investments union project is that significant amounts of savings will probably only start flowing into capital markets after the AI bubble bursts (if ever).
Reposted by János Allenbach-Ammann
At the same time, this means that I will be available for new projects.
So if you have an exciting idea that requires the expertise of someone specialising in supranational democracy, EU institutional reform, and the why and wherefore of European integration in general: please get in touch!
So if you have an exciting idea that requires the expertise of someone specialising in supranational democracy, EU institutional reform, and the why and wherefore of European integration in general: please get in touch!
November 17, 2025 at 7:08 AM
At the same time, this means that I will be available for new projects.
So if you have an exciting idea that requires the expertise of someone specialising in supranational democracy, EU institutional reform, and the why and wherefore of European integration in general: please get in touch!
So if you have an exciting idea that requires the expertise of someone specialising in supranational democracy, EU institutional reform, and the why and wherefore of European integration in general: please get in touch!
Reposted by János Allenbach-Ammann
The problem from their point of view is that rapid decarbonization requires public, collective decisions about the organization of production, in a way that threaten capital-owners' authority over both the production process and the political system.
November 10, 2025 at 4:20 PM
The problem from their point of view is that rapid decarbonization requires public, collective decisions about the organization of production, in a way that threaten capital-owners' authority over both the production process and the political system.
Reposted by János Allenbach-Ammann
This is also one of MY favorite things that’s ever happened on the internet!
November 7, 2025 at 9:08 PM
This is also one of MY favorite things that’s ever happened on the internet!
Reposted by János Allenbach-Ammann
“Bill Gates and his pals were never going to be anything but fair-weather-friends to the climate movement, because they lack the political vision to imagine that the problems of global climate change are also problems of the global social hierarchy that they sit comfortably atop.”
Bill Gates's climate memo showed a stunning lack of political vision.
The climate fight was always going to require technologies AND markets AND a social movement to make inconvenient demands upon the powerful.
What did he think he was signing up for?
open.substack.com/pub/davekarp...
The climate fight was always going to require technologies AND markets AND a social movement to make inconvenient demands upon the powerful.
What did he think he was signing up for?
open.substack.com/pub/davekarp...
Bill Gates's stunted political vision
Bill Gates went full Llomborg. Never go full Llomborg.
open.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:08 PM
“Bill Gates and his pals were never going to be anything but fair-weather-friends to the climate movement, because they lack the political vision to imagine that the problems of global climate change are also problems of the global social hierarchy that they sit comfortably atop.”
Reposted by János Allenbach-Ammann
On my morning commute, I’ve started noticing these small black lockboxes mounted beside doorbells or hanging from fences. They’re easy to miss, but once you spot one, you start seeing them everywhere.
November 4, 2025 at 9:01 AM
On my morning commute, I’ve started noticing these small black lockboxes mounted beside doorbells or hanging from fences. They’re easy to miss, but once you spot one, you start seeing them everywhere.
Reposted by János Allenbach-Ammann
If a man is not a socialist by the time he is 20 he has no heart. If he is not an idiosyncratic mix of borrowed principles mostly based on disagreeing with whoever has annoyed him recently by the time he is 35 he has no head.
November 3, 2025 at 6:58 PM
If a man is not a socialist by the time he is 20 he has no heart. If he is not an idiosyncratic mix of borrowed principles mostly based on disagreeing with whoever has annoyed him recently by the time he is 35 he has no head.
Reposted by János Allenbach-Ammann
Metsola seems to suggest that, because the European Council has said so, Parliament will have no choice but to push through the omnibus with votes from the far right after Wednesday’s failed vote. This is a worrying stance and a puzzling view of the EP’s relationship with EU leaders
October 24, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Metsola seems to suggest that, because the European Council has said so, Parliament will have no choice but to push through the omnibus with votes from the far right after Wednesday’s failed vote. This is a worrying stance and a puzzling view of the EP’s relationship with EU leaders
Reposted by János Allenbach-Ammann
The car crisis tops today’s EU summit but leaders keep staring at the wrong problem
The issue isn’t the 2035 engine ban - it’s demand falling off a cliff today
With @sandertordoir.bsky.social and @lucasguttenberg.bsky.social, we show why flipping regs won’t help - and what the EU can do instead.
The issue isn’t the 2035 engine ban - it’s demand falling off a cliff today
With @sandertordoir.bsky.social and @lucasguttenberg.bsky.social, we show why flipping regs won’t help - and what the EU can do instead.
October 23, 2025 at 8:04 AM
The car crisis tops today’s EU summit but leaders keep staring at the wrong problem
The issue isn’t the 2035 engine ban - it’s demand falling off a cliff today
With @sandertordoir.bsky.social and @lucasguttenberg.bsky.social, we show why flipping regs won’t help - and what the EU can do instead.
The issue isn’t the 2035 engine ban - it’s demand falling off a cliff today
With @sandertordoir.bsky.social and @lucasguttenberg.bsky.social, we show why flipping regs won’t help - and what the EU can do instead.
Reposted by János Allenbach-Ammann
High time to get rid of the 'bazooka' framing. The ACI is not a magic weapon. It's a new procedural way of threatening retaliation and then imposing it. The effect really depends on the threats the EU is willing to make. Currently we're mainly deterring ourselves with the military analogies.
At the moment it is seen as the nuclear option, but officials want to get rid of that reputation. It's just one tool in the armoury - I know they don't like the references to "trade bazooka" because it makes member states nervous about using ACI.
October 22, 2025 at 12:28 PM
High time to get rid of the 'bazooka' framing. The ACI is not a magic weapon. It's a new procedural way of threatening retaliation and then imposing it. The effect really depends on the threats the EU is willing to make. Currently we're mainly deterring ourselves with the military analogies.
Reposted by János Allenbach-Ammann
It is depressing to see the centre right and left ignore decades of political science only to walk into the trap of the far right. Again and again.
October 21, 2025 at 10:12 AM
It is depressing to see the centre right and left ignore decades of political science only to walk into the trap of the far right. Again and again.
Reposted by János Allenbach-Ammann
“Digital dreamstate” is pretty good
a tyrant is ignoring the constitution, firing live artillery at americans, invading our cities, and tearing down the white house to build himself a palace
our institutions won't react because they're lost in a digital dreamstate, unable to decide what is true because of social media poisoning
our institutions won't react because they're lost in a digital dreamstate, unable to decide what is true because of social media poisoning
October 21, 2025 at 2:01 AM
“Digital dreamstate” is pretty good
Reposted by János Allenbach-Ammann
BREAKING big step toward eventual approval of the new EU–Switzerland deal🇪🇺🇨🇭: center-right FDP has just approved the deal, while also deciding that a simple majority of citizens shall suffice (rejecting the Ständemehr requirement of both citizens+cantons which would have posed a much higher hurdle)
October 18, 2025 at 12:04 PM
BREAKING big step toward eventual approval of the new EU–Switzerland deal🇪🇺🇨🇭: center-right FDP has just approved the deal, while also deciding that a simple majority of citizens shall suffice (rejecting the Ständemehr requirement of both citizens+cantons which would have posed a much higher hurdle)
Reposted by János Allenbach-Ammann
New - Europe’s 3-body problem: collapsing global order sparks hunt for new trajectory
I got to write about one of my favourite Chinese sci-fi novels. Europe, realising it can’t fix systemic chaos, is instead trying to shift its own orbit.
I got to write about one of my favourite Chinese sci-fi novels. Europe, realising it can’t fix systemic chaos, is instead trying to shift its own orbit.
Europe’s 3-body problem: collapsing global order sparks hunt for new trajectory
Some are sceptical the EU’s talk of ‘economic security’ can translate into action, but there are early signs that may be changing.
www.scmp.com
October 14, 2025 at 6:13 AM
New - Europe’s 3-body problem: collapsing global order sparks hunt for new trajectory
I got to write about one of my favourite Chinese sci-fi novels. Europe, realising it can’t fix systemic chaos, is instead trying to shift its own orbit.
I got to write about one of my favourite Chinese sci-fi novels. Europe, realising it can’t fix systemic chaos, is instead trying to shift its own orbit.
Sadly, German ordoliberals remain unable to think about demand as an important factor.
German auto summit tomorrow.
The sole focus on the EU combustion engine phase-out, which is 10 years away, is baffling because German cars have a demand problem today
Berlin worries a new EV subsidy scheme would be fiscally too expensive.
But demand-side support is a fiscal no-brainer here.
1/
The sole focus on the EU combustion engine phase-out, which is 10 years away, is baffling because German cars have a demand problem today
Berlin worries a new EV subsidy scheme would be fiscally too expensive.
But demand-side support is a fiscal no-brainer here.
1/
October 8, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Sadly, German ordoliberals remain unable to think about demand as an important factor.
Reposted by János Allenbach-Ammann
🔥 Finally an EU leader says it out loud:
“We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks that are controlled either by large American entrepreneurs or large Chinese companies, whose interests are not at all the survival or proper functioning of our democracies.”
“We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks that are controlled either by large American entrepreneurs or large Chinese companies, whose interests are not at all the survival or proper functioning of our democracies.”
President Macron: “Europeans, let's wake up!
We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks.”
defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...
We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks.”
defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...
October 4, 2025 at 11:37 AM
🔥 Finally an EU leader says it out loud:
“We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks that are controlled either by large American entrepreneurs or large Chinese companies, whose interests are not at all the survival or proper functioning of our democracies.”
“We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks that are controlled either by large American entrepreneurs or large Chinese companies, whose interests are not at all the survival or proper functioning of our democracies.”