Table.Briefings

Feature

Stability Pact: Berlin fears untimely initiative

The EU is facing a difficult debate on reforming budget rules. It could begin at the most inopportune time: after the federal election, during coalition negotiations. Concerns are growing in Berlin: A push by Emmanuel Macron on the Stability Pact could complicate the formation of a government in Germany.

By Till Hoppe

The Taliban: unloved new old neighbors

A theocratic nation as Economic Partner of the Silk Road Initiative? Even pragmatic China finds it difficult to deal with the Taliban in practice. True, the intention was to make the best of the situation, but a Taliban emirate does not provide the necessary environment for safe investment. This is also evident by the failure of existing projects.

By

Is the EU fit for the 1.5-degree target?

Following the latest publications of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, there is disagreement about what the findings say about the EU climate package: Is the level of ambition sufficient or not? That depends, above all, on the perspective.

By Lukas Knigge

Government acquires stake in TikTok

China has bought into ByteDance, the publisher of the video app TikTok – with now presumably far-reaching veto power. The debate over the influence of the Chinese leadership over the popular app is now likely to flare up again.

By Redaktion Table

Despite low Covid numbers: Consumers remain cautious

The Covid pandemic has permanently changed Chinese consumers' shopping habits. But China's core problem remains: Domestic consumption is not sufficient to reliably support the economy. Even the high growth rates recorded by the retail sector over the recent months are not much of help.

By Marcel Grzanna

The Unicorns of the Pearl River Delta

The number of Chinese "unicorns" is rising. Especially in the Greater Bay Area of the Pearl River Delta, highly valued start-ups find a thriving ecosystem. The US is still far ahead in the number of unicorns. However, China is catching up in leaps and bounds.

By Frank Sieren

App stores: is a closed system really safer?

Their app stores put Google and Apple under pressure in Europe and the USA. The accusation: too much control. The companies justify themselves, saying that this is necessary for security reasons. But experts doubt this argument.

By Falk Steiner

Battery recycling: an unearthed treasure?

With the electrification of road traffic, the demand for battery raw materials such as lithium or cobalt is also growing. To be more independent of imports, the EU wants to focus more on recycling – and in doing so, also hold the automotive industry accountable.

By Nico Beckert

Taxonomy: pro-nuclear report causes controversy

In the fall, the EU Commission will decide whether investments in nuclear energy should be classified as sustainable. The decision is supposed to be based on scientific facts, but it is highly political. A report by the EU consultancy JRC is now causing controversy.

By Charlotte Wirth

Moment of truth for high-tech megadeal

The US chip company Nvidia will soon have to submit its planned takeover of Arm to the EU competition regulators for review. The 40-billion deal is also of strategic importance for Europe. It could fail because of China.

By Till Hoppe