Kathryn Carlson

EU will move to take on Wall Street with major financial reform proposals The Commission is planning to redraw rules for financial markets in a bid to boost the EU’s global competitiveness.

European startups have routinely relocated to the US to access the investment they need.

In a bid to halt that trend, Brussels will propose a sweeping package of reforms in December, three people briefed on the plan told us.

My story on the EU's big markets shakeup is now on the free site:

Our story on the new push to review EU finance rules is now available free:

Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union address this morning is Christmas in September for EU policy nerds.

In Brussels Playbook, @kcarlsonjourno.bsky.social explains why the speech, and the debate with MEPs that follows, is her shot at calming nerves about her leadership 👇

ow.ly/h61W50WUl91

How von der Leyen blindsided Brussels with her deregulation drive The Commission president is pushing a sweeping, rapid and centralized agenda to “simplify” EU rules — and not everyone in Brussels is thrilled.

Ursula von der Leyen has begun her second term as European Commission president with a lightning-fast deregulation drive — and almost no one in Brussels knew about it until it was already happening.

My story on VDL's dereg push is now on the free site: www.politico.eu/article/ursu...

FIDA is being killed by the Commission, per @mathieupollet.bsky.social scoop:

Huge news for FS!

I'm sure nothing bad will happen because of this....

...nothing at all....

EU to extend London’s post-Brexit clearing access to 2028 - story here: pro.politico.eu/news/192708

The European Commission defends having concealed the fact that Ursula von der Leyen was hospitalised for one week due to pneumonia, arguing this wasn't a "critical" piece of information.

She wasn't on a respirator or in intensive care. "Her ability to act was never in question," spokesperson says.

And the last of my pieces to be published over the holiday break! Here I check out with @fededisa.bsky.social why the bougie gyms of Brussels are becoming the new power lobbying spot. 🤸‍♂️🏋️🤸‍♂️

In a city where even the curve of a banana can spark rulemaking, the mere whisper of “deregulation” has long posed an existential quandary.

But shifting political tides across the Atlantic may finally force Brussels to confront this taboo.

🔗 www.politico.eu/article/dona...

From reviving European markets to keep pace with China and the US to advancing digital and green initiatives, Brussels faces a pivotal year of economic and financial challenges.

Here’s our rundown of the key finance policy battles shaping 2025 👇

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🇮🇪 In this piece I spoke with Irish officials who say they are in despair about their country’s fading influence over European Union economic policy, complaining Dublin performed poorly in the race for the best jobs in the European Commission’s new five-year term.

And it was great to contribute to this piece on Fidias Panayiotou — who's known to ECON committee-watchers by now for his outspoken praise of Musk and Tesla as much as his unorthodox political style.

Happy to join the podcast last week to chat about the new lobbying hotspot in Brussels: the high-end gym 🤸‍♂️🏋️💦