THE STATE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION REPORT. Europe in a period of transition

INTRODUCTION. THE CHALLENGES OF POST-PANDEMIC EUROPE 11 economic policy over the coming years. And the most important. Without a progressive rise in taxes – on higher incomes and the most profitable corporations, in particular tech multinationals – it will not be possible to support the increase in public investment, both in Europe and nationally. Nor will it be possible to provide a sustainable response to the problems of the welfare state without doing away with the shameful phenomenon of tax havens. These are the issues addressed in the 2021 Report on the State of the European Union, a report that seeks to analyse and shed light on the complex political, social, economic, technological and climate panorama and the challenging times that Europe’s citizens are experiencing, at a moment when they appear to be turning towards pro- gressive proposals. Luise Rürup Diego López Garrido Representative of the Executive Vice-president Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Spain of Fundación Alternativas