Gunter Rieck Moncayo

EU-Japan Critical Raw Materials Alliance

How the EU and Japan could benefit from large-scale cooperation in the field of rare earth elements

In the face of growing geopolitical risks, including the use of critical minerals as a tool of economic coercion, the EU and Japan need to deepen their cooperation and promote efforts to reduce their dependency on China. Therefore the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) and the Nakasone Peace Institute (NPI) propose an ambitious cooperation, including EU-Japan public-private funds, joint procurement and stockpiling, collaboration on environmental measures and technology development, and the establishment of a critical raw materials club.

Searching for the ­Right Dose

On the Role of State Intervention in Times of Geoeconomic Competition

For Germany and Europe, the geopolitical environment has deteriorated massively. Our foreign trade policy cannot ignore this fact. That is why the term “de-risking” is on everyone’s lips. The demand on the state to intervene in economic ­relations if necessary to protect its own security is increasing. That is quite right, as long as we realise two things: more is not necessarily better. And even the best de-risking instruments are of little help without your own competitiveness.

Emergency without ending? The federal budget in limbo

The second supplementary budget 2021 is incompatible with basic constitutional law and thus null and void

With the second supplementary budget 2021, the federal government seemed to have found the solution to its problems: The € 60 billion in unused funds earmarked for the consequences of the corona pandemic were transferred to the "Climate and Transformation Fund" (KTF). This special fund was intended to promote energy transition and climate protection instruments while at the same time complying with the debt brake. The diverging interests of the three coalition partners were therefore no longer subject to any budget restrictions; there was money for everything at once – and thanks to the credit authorizations "in reserve" until after the next federal election. However, a "win-win" turned into a "lose-lose situation" after the ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court on November 15, 2023. The supplementary budget was "incompatible with the basic constitutional law and thus null and void"[1], making the reallocation of funds unconstitutional.

EU-Mercosur Agreement would be a sign of hope in an uncertain and complex world

The Negotiations on the EU-Mercosur Agreement from Uruguay's Perspective

On July 17th, at the first EU-Latin America summit in eight years, the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, which is not yet fully finalized, is set to be further consolidated and completed by the end of the year at the latest. An additional chapter is intended to address the remaining concerns about the agreement and help prevent human rights violations, environmental damage, and climate impacts. In an interview with Nicolás Albertoni, the Deputy Foreign Secretary of Uruguay, we discuss the significance of the EU-Mercosur agreement in the South American public sphere, the importance of the EU-CELAC summit for dialogue between the regions, and the need for a timely conclusion of the agreement.

De-Dollarisierung der Weltwirtschaft?

Warum der Renminbi nicht als neue Leitwährung taugt

In jüngster Zeit tauchten vermehrt Meldungen über eine vermeintliche De-Dollarisierung der Weltwirtschaft auf. Die Dominanz des US-Dollars bei der Finanzierung des internationalen Handels sowie seine herausgehobene Rolle als Reservewährung würden demnach durch den Aufstieg des Renminbi und den Aufbau eines BRICS-eigenen Zahlungssystems bedroht.

Wirtschaftliche Entwicklung durch innerafrikanischen Freihandel

Historischer Auftakt für die Afrikanische Freihandelszone

Ursprünglich sollte der Handel nach den Regeln des afrikanischen Freihandelsabkommens (AfCFTA) bereits am 1. Januar 2021 beginnen. Mit Verspätung starteten am 7. Oktober 2022 nun acht Staaten mit ausgewählten Warengruppen. Ein Hoffnungsschimmer für die Bevölkerung vor Ort, die von einer Stärkung des intraregionalen Handels profitieren würde. Dafür müssen aber auch gesellschaftliche Institutionen gefördert werden, die sich für eine stärkere Integration des afrikanischen Kontinents einsetzen.

„Perfect Storm“

Die Folgen steigender Preise in Subsahara-Afrika

West Africa – A stocktake on the COVID-19 pandemic

An indicative outlook on the impact and future potential, based on more than 40 interviews with experts from the West African region

The COVID-19 pandemic hit many of the sub-Saharan African countries on their path toward growth and stabilisation, and like all other countries globally, they were completely unprepared. The restrictions on economic activities resulting from lockdowns and macroeconomic instability is increasing poverty and threatens livelihoods. Undoubtedly, sub-Saharan Africa is facing major economic and socio-political challenges.

Wachstum mit Hindernissen

Highlights zur wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung in Subsahara-Afrika

Diese Publikation gibt es nur in französischer Sprache

Growth with Obstacles

Highlights on the Economic Development in Sub-Saharan Africa

Barely any issues in Germany have witnessed such an increase of attention over the past few years as the economic development of Africa. Africa’s increasing relevance to Germany and Europe brings up matters on the agenda that used to be considered niche issues. Numerous initiatives notably attest to this new attention. For instance, the “Compact with Africa”, ratified under the German presidency of the G20, aims at more private investment in Africa that is to be translated into local growth and employment.