The mandate for this study was to undertake an evaluation of EU external action as managed by three DGs: DG RELEX, DG DEV and DG AIDCO. The Terms of Reference identified two main objectives (ToR, Feb 2010, Section 1 – reproduced in Annex 1): · To provide an overall independent assessment of...

This evaluation covers the strategies of the European Union (EU) for co-operation with the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) and their implementation 1999–2009, including the intended effects under the current programming cycle 2008-2013, in relation to the territorial Single...

In Lisbon the European Council proclaimed a European growth strategy. It considers an average economic u0093growth rate of around 3 percent as a realistic prospect for the coming yearsu0094 and assigns public finances an important role in the process of achieving this goal. This paper addresses...

This paper considers the role of foreign investors in developed-country equity markets. It presents a quantitative model of trading that is built around two new assumptions: (i) both the foreign and domestic investor populations contain investors of different sophistication, and (ii) investor...

This evaluation assesses the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability of the European Commission’s support to its partner countries in the energy sector. It covers interventions designed or implemented during the 1996-2007 period in all the external cooperation partner...

The fall in energy prices has opened a window of opportunity for governments in both developed and developing countries to reform subsidy schemes for fossil fuels, which worldwide cost an estimated USD 1.9 trillion a year. Careful reforms would not only strengthen public finances but reduce...

This brief reviews the evolution of the US and the European labour markets since the beginning of the financial crisis. In the US, the unemployment rate and the share of long-term unemployment grew very fast, during the crisis, thereby reaching levels close to those in the EU. Does that mean...