Thomas Schwab
@schwabvonpostel.eu
Economist | Project Manager | Research Architect @ Bertelsmann Stiftung
I specialize in European economic policy with a focus on how to foster economic cohesion all over the EU.
Views are my own
I specialize in European economic policy with a focus on how to foster economic cohesion all over the EU.
Views are my own
🇪🇺 Big day in Brussels: von der Leyen meets Metsola to break the deadlock over the EU’s MFF.
The EP fears the plan sidelines regions + weakens its role.
Commission hints at concessions — but will that be enough to avoid a showdown?
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
The EP fears the plan sidelines regions + weakens its role.
Commission hints at concessions — but will that be enough to avoid a showdown?
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
POLITICO
European Politics, Policy, Government News
politico.eu
November 10, 2025 at 10:57 AM
🇪🇺 Big day in Brussels: von der Leyen meets Metsola to break the deadlock over the EU’s MFF.
The EP fears the plan sidelines regions + weakens its role.
Commission hints at concessions — but will that be enough to avoid a showdown?
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
The EP fears the plan sidelines regions + weakens its role.
Commission hints at concessions — but will that be enough to avoid a showdown?
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞’𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞? 🇪🇺
The EU’s new budget debate isn’t just about money — it’s about power and participation.
By centralising decisions in national governments, the Commission risks sidelining regions and civil society — the very actors who make policies work on the ground.
1/2
The EU’s new budget debate isn’t just about money — it’s about power and participation.
By centralising decisions in national governments, the Commission risks sidelining regions and civil society — the very actors who make policies work on the ground.
1/2
November 9, 2025 at 1:36 PM
𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞’𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞? 🇪🇺
The EU’s new budget debate isn’t just about money — it’s about power and participation.
By centralising decisions in national governments, the Commission risks sidelining regions and civil society — the very actors who make policies work on the ground.
1/2
The EU’s new budget debate isn’t just about money — it’s about power and participation.
By centralising decisions in national governments, the Commission risks sidelining regions and civil society — the very actors who make policies work on the ground.
1/2
Reposted by Thomas Schwab
🚨 MFF: The What and How of Cohesion Policy 🇪🇺💶
As the EU prepares its next long-term budget (MFF), the future of Cohesion Policy is at a crossroads.
What’s at stake?
👇 A short thread 🧵
As the EU prepares its next long-term budget (MFF), the future of Cohesion Policy is at a crossroads.
What’s at stake?
👇 A short thread 🧵
July 10, 2025 at 9:23 AM
🚨 MFF: The What and How of Cohesion Policy 🇪🇺💶
As the EU prepares its next long-term budget (MFF), the future of Cohesion Policy is at a crossroads.
What’s at stake?
👇 A short thread 🧵
As the EU prepares its next long-term budget (MFF), the future of Cohesion Policy is at a crossroads.
What’s at stake?
👇 A short thread 🧵
New Policy Brief: Cohesion Policy in National Envelopes: How to integrate Partnership
EU Cohesion Policy is changing — but local voices must not be lost. 🛡️
✅ National Partnership Committees
✅ Stronger rules for stakeholder involvement
EU Cohesion Policy is changing — but local voices must not be lost. 🛡️
✅ National Partnership Committees
✅ Stronger rules for stakeholder involvement
April 28, 2025 at 8:29 AM
New Policy Brief: Cohesion Policy in National Envelopes: How to integrate Partnership
EU Cohesion Policy is changing — but local voices must not be lost. 🛡️
✅ National Partnership Committees
✅ Stronger rules for stakeholder involvement
EU Cohesion Policy is changing — but local voices must not be lost. 🛡️
✅ National Partnership Committees
✅ Stronger rules for stakeholder involvement
Deutschland hat eine neue Koalition: Union und SPD werden in den kommenden Jahren zusammenarbeiten.
Im Koalitionsvertrag findet sich auf Seite 137 bemerkenswert viel zur zukünftigen Ausrichtung der Kohäsionspolitik. Hier eine Einordnung.
Im Koalitionsvertrag findet sich auf Seite 137 bemerkenswert viel zur zukünftigen Ausrichtung der Kohäsionspolitik. Hier eine Einordnung.
April 9, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Deutschland hat eine neue Koalition: Union und SPD werden in den kommenden Jahren zusammenarbeiten.
Im Koalitionsvertrag findet sich auf Seite 137 bemerkenswert viel zur zukünftigen Ausrichtung der Kohäsionspolitik. Hier eine Einordnung.
Im Koalitionsvertrag findet sich auf Seite 137 bemerkenswert viel zur zukünftigen Ausrichtung der Kohäsionspolitik. Hier eine Einordnung.
🚨 Cohesion Policy: The End of the ERDF as we know it?
Today, Mr. Fitto unveiled major changes to #CohesionPolicy. €100B+ in ERDF funds remain unspent — now up for grabs to fund defence, competitiveness, housing. Why is this the case?
Today, Mr. Fitto unveiled major changes to #CohesionPolicy. €100B+ in ERDF funds remain unspent — now up for grabs to fund defence, competitiveness, housing. Why is this the case?
April 1, 2025 at 3:21 PM
🚨 Cohesion Policy: The End of the ERDF as we know it?
Today, Mr. Fitto unveiled major changes to #CohesionPolicy. €100B+ in ERDF funds remain unspent — now up for grabs to fund defence, competitiveness, housing. Why is this the case?
Today, Mr. Fitto unveiled major changes to #CohesionPolicy. €100B+ in ERDF funds remain unspent — now up for grabs to fund defence, competitiveness, housing. Why is this the case?
🌍⚡ Super-charging regional development: How do we empower the local energy transition?
The EU’s path to climate neutrality by 2050 depends on a just and effective energy transition—but different regions face different challenges.
The EU’s path to climate neutrality by 2050 depends on a just and effective energy transition—but different regions face different challenges.
March 10, 2025 at 9:34 PM
🌍⚡ Super-charging regional development: How do we empower the local energy transition?
The EU’s path to climate neutrality by 2050 depends on a just and effective energy transition—but different regions face different challenges.
The EU’s path to climate neutrality by 2050 depends on a just and effective energy transition—but different regions face different challenges.
🌍 Praktikum: Klimapolitik & Datenanalyse – Gestalte Europas Zukunft mit uns! 📊
Europa geht den nächsten Schritt im Klimaschutz: Die CO₂-Besteuerung wird auf Gebäude ausgeweitet – mit spürbaren Folgen für Bürger:innen. Doch wer ist besonders betroffen? Und wie kann die EU gezielt helfen?
Europa geht den nächsten Schritt im Klimaschutz: Die CO₂-Besteuerung wird auf Gebäude ausgeweitet – mit spürbaren Folgen für Bürger:innen. Doch wer ist besonders betroffen? Und wie kann die EU gezielt helfen?
Praktikant:in im Projekt Europas Wirtschaft zukunftsfähig machen (m/w/d)
Praktikant:in im Projekt Europas Wirtschaft zukunftsfähig machen (m/w/d)
jobsearch.createyourowncareer.com
March 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM
🌍 Praktikum: Klimapolitik & Datenanalyse – Gestalte Europas Zukunft mit uns! 📊
Europa geht den nächsten Schritt im Klimaschutz: Die CO₂-Besteuerung wird auf Gebäude ausgeweitet – mit spürbaren Folgen für Bürger:innen. Doch wer ist besonders betroffen? Und wie kann die EU gezielt helfen?
Europa geht den nächsten Schritt im Klimaschutz: Die CO₂-Besteuerung wird auf Gebäude ausgeweitet – mit spürbaren Folgen für Bürger:innen. Doch wer ist besonders betroffen? Und wie kann die EU gezielt helfen?
Germans‘ love for Fax 📠 knows no boundaries: www.derstandard.at/story/300000...
Firma aus Deutschland verschickt KI-Antworten per Fax
Wer keinen PC hat, kann dennoch mit dem Chatbot kommunizieren. Ein Unternehmen aus Braunschweig macht das möglich
www.derstandard.at
January 27, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Germans‘ love for Fax 📠 knows no boundaries: www.derstandard.at/story/300000...
Die neueste Ausgabe des Jahrbuch für öffentliche Finanzen #JöFin ist soeben erschienen!
Darin enthalten mein Beitrag "Quo vadis, Kohäsionspolitik? Die europäische Regionalentwicklung am Scheideweg".
Überall erhältlich, wo es gute Bücher zu kaufen gibt 😀
@bertelsmannst.bsky.social #CohesionSky
Darin enthalten mein Beitrag "Quo vadis, Kohäsionspolitik? Die europäische Regionalentwicklung am Scheideweg".
Überall erhältlich, wo es gute Bücher zu kaufen gibt 😀
@bertelsmannst.bsky.social #CohesionSky
January 20, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Die neueste Ausgabe des Jahrbuch für öffentliche Finanzen #JöFin ist soeben erschienen!
Darin enthalten mein Beitrag "Quo vadis, Kohäsionspolitik? Die europäische Regionalentwicklung am Scheideweg".
Überall erhältlich, wo es gute Bücher zu kaufen gibt 😀
@bertelsmannst.bsky.social #CohesionSky
Darin enthalten mein Beitrag "Quo vadis, Kohäsionspolitik? Die europäische Regionalentwicklung am Scheideweg".
Überall erhältlich, wo es gute Bücher zu kaufen gibt 😀
@bertelsmannst.bsky.social #CohesionSky
The past weeks, I took some time off and missed several exciting developments in the field of regional economics and EU Cohesion Policy.
Here’s a quick recap of what I’ve been catching up on:
#CohesionSky #CohesionPolicy #Cohesion #EU
Here’s a quick recap of what I’ve been catching up on:
#CohesionSky #CohesionPolicy #Cohesion #EU
January 8, 2025 at 9:40 AM
The past weeks, I took some time off and missed several exciting developments in the field of regional economics and EU Cohesion Policy.
Here’s a quick recap of what I’ve been catching up on:
#CohesionSky #CohesionPolicy #Cohesion #EU
Here’s a quick recap of what I’ve been catching up on:
#CohesionSky #CohesionPolicy #Cohesion #EU
I know — the starter pack craze on BlueSky is already winding down. 😅 But life happens, and I’ve been offline for a bit. In the meantime, BlueSky’s community has grown significantly, but many more are still finding their way here. go.bsky.app/78Kiwp6 #CohesionSky #CohesionSky 1/3
January 7, 2025 at 8:17 AM
I know — the starter pack craze on BlueSky is already winding down. 😅 But life happens, and I’ve been offline for a bit. In the meantime, BlueSky’s community has grown significantly, but many more are still finding their way here. go.bsky.app/78Kiwp6 #CohesionSky #CohesionSky 1/3
🇦🇹 Infelix Austria: Back in September, I predicted that deep-seated rivalries would make forming a new government difficult — and here we are. The three-party alliance talks have collapsed, and a grand coalition is off the table.
Now, only two options remain:
1️⃣ An FPÖ-ÖVP government
2️⃣ New elections
Now, only two options remain:
1️⃣ An FPÖ-ÖVP government
2️⃣ New elections
January 6, 2025 at 2:05 PM
🇦🇹 Infelix Austria: Back in September, I predicted that deep-seated rivalries would make forming a new government difficult — and here we are. The three-party alliance talks have collapsed, and a grand coalition is off the table.
Now, only two options remain:
1️⃣ An FPÖ-ÖVP government
2️⃣ New elections
Now, only two options remain:
1️⃣ An FPÖ-ÖVP government
2️⃣ New elections
Reposted by Thomas Schwab
Was uns wirklich die Demokratie kosten wird, ist die Aufmerksamkeitsökonomie.
November 12, 2024 at 8:43 AM
Was uns wirklich die Demokratie kosten wird, ist die Aufmerksamkeitsökonomie.
Reposted by Thomas Schwab
We organise an exciting special session on the future of cohesion policy evaluation at the next @regstud.bsky.social annual conference. Please consider submitting your work
👇👇👇
www.regionalstudies.org/news/2025-rs...!
👇👇👇
www.regionalstudies.org/news/2025-rs...!
November 20, 2024 at 6:54 PM
We organise an exciting special session on the future of cohesion policy evaluation at the next @regstud.bsky.social annual conference. Please consider submitting your work
👇👇👇
www.regionalstudies.org/news/2025-rs...!
👇👇👇
www.regionalstudies.org/news/2025-rs...!
Exciting times ahead as the new @ec.europa.eu is set to be appointed by December 1! With the political hurdles—particularly around Raffaele Fitto—now resolved, we can shift our focus back to the core issues. 1/2
Raffele #Fitto's hearing today was intense and controversial – as expected. It focused on his political integrity, adherence to the rule of law, and commitment to the Green Deal. He held against by embracing diverse opinions and asserted independence from parties and member states.
November 20, 2024 at 8:34 PM
Exciting times ahead as the new @ec.europa.eu is set to be appointed by December 1! With the political hurdles—particularly around Raffaele Fitto—now resolved, we can shift our focus back to the core issues. 1/2
#Innovation and #entrepreneurship can play a key role in revitalising #rural areas and turning them into places of opportunity. A #JRC report explores 4️⃣ cases of #startup villages and their developing innovation #ecosystems
👇
publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/h...
#econbsky #EU @ec.europa.eu
👇
publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/h...
#econbsky #EU @ec.europa.eu
November 19, 2024 at 10:00 PM
Reposted by Thomas Schwab
The incidence of #farm subsidies is very hard to pin down empirically.
A while back I had a look at some of the research in the EU context. 🧵
www.economist.com/finance-and-...
A while back I had a look at some of the research in the EU context. 🧵
www.economist.com/finance-and-...
EU handouts have long been wasteful. Now they must be fixed
New research highlights their failures
www.economist.com
November 19, 2024 at 9:57 AM
The incidence of #farm subsidies is very hard to pin down empirically.
A while back I had a look at some of the research in the EU context. 🧵
www.economist.com/finance-and-...
A while back I had a look at some of the research in the EU context. 🧵
www.economist.com/finance-and-...
BlueSky or Mastodon: Which is the best alternative to X/Twitter?
Good news—you don’t have to choose! Decentralized, interoperable platforms let you connect seamlessly.
Here’s how: On BlueSky, just follow ap.brid.gy to interact with Mastodon users. That’s it. Simple, powerful, connected.
Good news—you don’t have to choose! Decentralized, interoperable platforms let you connect seamlessly.
Here’s how: On BlueSky, just follow ap.brid.gy to interact with Mastodon users. That’s it. Simple, powerful, connected.
Bridgy Fed
ap.brid.gy
November 18, 2024 at 6:32 PM
BlueSky or Mastodon: Which is the best alternative to X/Twitter?
Good news—you don’t have to choose! Decentralized, interoperable platforms let you connect seamlessly.
Here’s how: On BlueSky, just follow ap.brid.gy to interact with Mastodon users. That’s it. Simple, powerful, connected.
Good news—you don’t have to choose! Decentralized, interoperable platforms let you connect seamlessly.
Here’s how: On BlueSky, just follow ap.brid.gy to interact with Mastodon users. That’s it. Simple, powerful, connected.
Let’s start the debate on regional development, territorial inequality and how to improve Cohesion Policy here on #BlueSky. I set up a feed to get an overview of all posts in this matters: bsky.app/profile/did:...
November 18, 2024 at 8:56 AM
Let’s start the debate on regional development, territorial inequality and how to improve Cohesion Policy here on #BlueSky. I set up a feed to get an overview of all posts in this matters: bsky.app/profile/did:...
I set up a starter pack on people dealing with regional development issues and/or Cohesion Policy.
Whom did I miss? Let me know. There are many more spots available on this starter pack.
go.bsky.app/78Kiwp6
Whom did I miss? Let me know. There are many more spots available on this starter pack.
go.bsky.app/78Kiwp6
November 17, 2024 at 11:57 AM
I set up a starter pack on people dealing with regional development issues and/or Cohesion Policy.
Whom did I miss? Let me know. There are many more spots available on this starter pack.
go.bsky.app/78Kiwp6
Whom did I miss? Let me know. There are many more spots available on this starter pack.
go.bsky.app/78Kiwp6
November 16, 2024 at 6:48 PM
Raffele #Fitto's hearing today was intense and controversial – as expected. It focused on his political integrity, adherence to the rule of law, and commitment to the Green Deal. He held against by embracing diverse opinions and asserted independence from parties and member states.
November 12, 2024 at 12:02 PM
Raffele #Fitto's hearing today was intense and controversial – as expected. It focused on his political integrity, adherence to the rule of law, and commitment to the Green Deal. He held against by embracing diverse opinions and asserted independence from parties and member states.
This Sunday: Will the FPÖ win the election in Austria 🇦🇹?
For Global & European Dynamics, I explore the key drivers behind their surge: sluggish economic performance 📉, ties with Russia, decarbonisation challenges ⛽, Euroscepticism 🇪🇺 and a wave of populist policies:
globaleurope.eu/europes-futu...
For Global & European Dynamics, I explore the key drivers behind their surge: sluggish economic performance 📉, ties with Russia, decarbonisation challenges ⛽, Euroscepticism 🇪🇺 and a wave of populist policies:
globaleurope.eu/europes-futu...
Infelix Austria? The Complex Realities Behind the Upcoming Austrian Elections
The concept of “tu felix Austria” or “happy Austria” was coined by Emperor Maximilian I during his 16th century reign when he expanded the Habsburg territories through marriages, rather than war. In m...
globaleurope.eu
September 26, 2024 at 11:47 AM
This Sunday: Will the FPÖ win the election in Austria 🇦🇹?
For Global & European Dynamics, I explore the key drivers behind their surge: sluggish economic performance 📉, ties with Russia, decarbonisation challenges ⛽, Euroscepticism 🇪🇺 and a wave of populist policies:
globaleurope.eu/europes-futu...
For Global & European Dynamics, I explore the key drivers behind their surge: sluggish economic performance 📉, ties with Russia, decarbonisation challenges ⛽, Euroscepticism 🇪🇺 and a wave of populist policies:
globaleurope.eu/europes-futu...