Ana Fuentes | In Spain, the results have been very markedly pro-European and the Socialist Party is the one that will contribute the most MEPs in Strasbourg. For some analysts, it is a golden opportunity that the government of Pedro Sánchez should take advantage of to increase the Spanish weight in the decisions, instead of having to be always subordinated to the Franco-German axis.
Alvise Lennkh (Scope Ratings) | These elections to the European Parliament will show whether the anti-system and eurosceptic parties have got stronger at the expense of traditional pro-European parties, which could have significant implications for how the EU functions over the next few years.
Tatiana Coutto via The Conversation | The European Parliament elections are not unlike cricket. Both can last for quite a few days and it can be pretty hard to understand the rules.
This figure implies a moderation in the fall in car matriculations in the EU. In March the rate was -3.9%%. In the year so far the fall is -2.6% which brings the total of cars sold to some 5.3 M.
Ana Fuentes (Brussels) | In a week´s time we will know the results of the European elections, the road map of the EU in a delicate moment of great fragmentation. To think in the classical left-right divide is a mistake. What matters is playing out in a cross bordering way: those that believe in Europe, although they question it in many areas, versus those who seek fewer concessions and more returns, more power for the sovereign states, even though they receive European funds.
CaixaBank Research | The underlying conditions are in place for a new leap forward in the European integration process, but this is unlikely to happen over the next five years. The euro area will make progress in completing its institutional framework, especially with regards to the banking union. Defence, the relationship with China and migration are becoming focal points in the political sphere for joint decision-making (although this is still some way off).
Lidia Conde (Frankfurt) | Germany is its firms. Germany is Deutsche Bank, Bayer, Thyssenkrupp, VW. What German executive Dieter Zetsche said a few weeks ago, that “it is not clear that the brand Mercedes Benz will exist in the future”, symbolises the identity crisis generated by global pressure, digitalisation and the latest technological revolution. Many of the consortia which form part of the German economic identity are between a rock and a hard place. It would be the definitive goodbye to the so-called Germany Ltd.
Weak demand remains the key to the lack of inflationary pressures in the Eurozone.
European Economics Commissioner Pierre Moscovici confirmed on Wednesday that the European Commission will recommend that Spain exit the Excessive Deficit Mechanism in June. He did not specify exactly when the recommendation will be published, but indicated that it will be included in the Commission´s Spring Package, due to be published early next month. Technically the decision must be ratified by the member states of the Union, but this is seen as a formality.
Ofelia Marín-Lozano (1962 Capital SICAV) | 12 April was the deadline for the UK to decide of it was going to leave the EU without an agreement or, on the other hand, seek a new delay. The worst scenario for markets, a no deal Brexit, has been ruled out. The EU have granted the UK a new delay, which ends at the end of October 2019, to see if they can finally come to some kind of conclusion.