Thoughts at the turn of the year

The author contends that the rise of right-wing and left-wing populism in Europe is fueled by the failure of national governments to deliver common EU policies for social division, climate collapse, and economic instability. The text advocates for a 'Green New Deal' to steer capital toward ecological modernization, a collaborative taxation policy to end corporate tax dumping, and systemic reforms to increase transparency and reduce the influence of economic lobbies within EU institutions. It specifically calls for the cessation of free trade agreements like TTIP, CETA, and TiSA, arguing they limit European democracy.

• The growth of populist and eurosceptic parties in countries such as France, Austria, Finland, the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Poland is linked to the inability of nation states to solve large political problems and a lack of a credible European identity based on diversity and human rights.
• To counter nationalist ideologies and economic stagnation in regions unable to profit from globalisation, the EU should provide solidarity financing for 'environmental and social jobs of the future', specifically targeting renewable energy, sustainable tourism, and education in countries like Greece and Portugal.
• The author warns of a potential new financial bubble caused by low-interest-rate policies from the European Central Bank, weak investments, and unequal income distribution, proposing a 'Green New Deal' to redirect excess capital toward health, education, and ecological modernization.
• Corporate tax dumping by companies such as Amazon, Google, and Starbucks persists due to European tax competition; the author argues that a collaborative taxation policy is necessary to uphold principles in a globalised world and fund social cohesion.
• The author proposes several measures to increase EU transparency and reduce lobby influence, including a comprehensive lobbying transparency register, a 'legislative footprint' for lobbyists, and making 'Trialogues' and the Eurogroup fully transparent.
• Free trade agreements, specifically TTIP, CETA, the treaty with Singapore, and TiSA, are viewed as impediments to democracy that limit the ability to make the European Single Market social and ecological.

APA

Giegold, S. (2016). Thoughts at the turn of the year. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/thoughts-at-the-turn-of-the-year/

Chicago

Giegold, Sven. Thoughts at the turn of the year. Green European Journal, 2016. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/thoughts-at-the-turn-of-the-year/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Giegold |first1=Sven |title=Thoughts at the turn of the year |publisher=Green European Journal |date=11 January 2016 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/thoughts-at-the-turn-of-the-year/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{giegold2016thoughts, author = {Giegold, Sven}, title = {{Thoughts at the turn of the year}}, publisher = {Green European Journal}, year = {2016}, month = jan, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/thoughts-at-the-turn-of-the-year/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }