What is EuroLens?

For effective economic governance in European Union (EU) countries, you need the facts. Insight into what is happening all round. Fundamental shifts will take place in the economy in the coming years. In the labour market. Between industrial sectors. And within sectors themselves. Sustainability and inclusive economic growth are key to the new paradigm. Statistical analyses over the past 25 years and across the European Union shows that the influence of derailed public finance on macroeconomic indicators is limited. With the EU's fiscal tools (SGP) revealed as no longer fit for purpose, insight into the underlying problems is crucial! Now, more than ever! Where insight is absent, current economic policy is guaranteed to strand. A new approach to current SGP fiscal policy is thus needed.

Monitoring developments in uncharted waters is what EuroLens does best. Designed to map out underlying developments and monitor them permanently, it is an indispensable tool for every manager, policy maker, members of parliament, investors, analyst or journalist. Wishing to keep the eye firmly focused on the European project. As it unfolds.

What EuroLens doe

EuroLens is a new on-line information system that brings into focus the economic situation in each EU Member State. Covering a multitude of facets, EuroLens ensures you are kept informed at all times, have the latest data at your fingertips

EuroLens takes European Commission and Eurostat data, classifies and restructures it into easily accessible, meaningful information on the Member States of the EU. Daily updated, it provides powerful insight into the here and now of the EU. Insight that has never been more crucial.

Public finance. Using AI (Artificial Intelligence) related statistical models, EuroLens has established that the impact of derailed government borrowing on the MIP indicators earmarked by the European Commission is negligible. In other words the EU's fiscal tools (SGP) are no longer fit for purpose

That being the case, EuroLens started looking for a new benchmark, a tipping point when public finance (governance) is patently unmanageable and policy intervention becomes inevitable. ASPEC has developed a tool that can be used to determine the tipping point for individual EU Member States, allowing them to take action where needed. Responsibility for triggering policy intervention then falls first and foremost to the individual Member State. However, a decision on the optimal policy measures needed for a solution should be taken in consultation with the European Commission.

Stress test. EuroLens takes European Commission and Eurostat data, classifies and restructures it into easily accessible meaningful information on the Member States of the EU. Daily updates it provides powerful insight into the here and now of the EU. Insight that has never been more crucial. Now that the Covid-19 pandemic and geo-political issues have changed the European Union beyond recognition. EuroLens also tested the impact of adverse scenario’s (economic recession, inflation shocks, interest rate hikes) on the MIP indicators earmarked by the European Commission. Here again their effect was shown to be almost negligible.

A possible explanation for this is that being part of the European Union already provides Member States with sufficient protection from possible negative repercussions from financial markets. Presumably because the EU itself acts as guarantor and therefore it can always be relied on to provide the necessary cover on the downside

Sustainability. The European Commission has made the implementation of environment and energy issues a spearhead of policy and has rolled out targets for the individual Member States to meet. Eurolens monitors these developments closely.

Public sentiment. In principle, Eurolens uses a macroeconomic approach. If the Covid-19 pandemic showned us anything, it is the growing discrepancy between the perception of policy makers and that of the man-in-the-street. The EU’s bi-annual survey (Eurobarometer) provides a reading of below-the-surface public sentiment; together with the outcomes that need to be taken into account in a bottom-up approach to policy decision-making. Eurolens makes this field of tension visible.

Accessibility. For the latest data on the EU at your fingertips wherever you are, an internet connection and a EuroLens account is all you need. Instantly accessible wherever you are. At a meeting, in conference, advising clients or writing a report, EuroLens is spot-on. For raising your understanding of the EU to a new level.