European Union Poised To Reassess Budget Deficit Rules Amid Soaring Energy Costs

Rising Energy Costs And Fiscal Policy Dilemmas

Giancarlo Giorgetti, Italy’s Economy Minister, said the European Union may need to relax deficit rules if rising energy costs continue to pressure economies. The comments follow increased volatility in energy markets linked to geopolitical tensions, with governments facing higher costs for households and businesses.

Proactive National Measures

Italy approved a €500 million package to extend fuel tax reductions, aiming to limit the impact of rising energy prices. The measure prolongs lower excise duties until May 1, compared with the earlier deadline of April 7. Authorities introduced the extension as part of efforts to stabilize domestic fuel prices amid continued market uncertainty. The policy reflects short-term intervention to manage cost pressures.

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Implications For European Fiscal Governance

Giorgetti said discussions on easing the EU’s 3% deficit limit may become necessary if current conditions persist. Rising energy costs are increasing pressure on national budgets and fiscal targets. Italy is working to reduce its deficit from 3.1% to 2.8% of GDP, but slower growth and higher energy spending complicate this trajectory. Fiscal constraints remain a key issue for policymakers.

Historical Context And Future Prospects

EU budget rules were temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic under the general escape clause. The framework was reinstated in 2024, restoring deficit limits and enforcement mechanisms. Italy is currently subject to an EU procedure related to excessive deficit levels. These constraints limit fiscal flexibility as external pressures on the economy increase.

Market Concerns And Government Forecasts

Fabio Panetta, Member of the European Central Bank Governing Council, said energy market volatility may affect financial stability. Ongoing price fluctuations are contributing to uncertainty across financial systems. Italy is expected to revise its economic forecasts, including GDP growth and public finances. Current projections indicate slower growth, with potential downward revisions in upcoming reports.

Conclusion

Energy market volatility and geopolitical risks are increasing pressure on fiscal policy across the European Union. Future decisions on deficit rules will depend on how these conditions evolve. Policy adjustments at the EU level may affect both national budgets and broader economic stability.

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Women Make Up A Majority Of The EU’s Science And Technology Workforce But The Real Gap Is Elsewhere

by News Editor

June 25, 2026

Women now make up the majority of the EU’s science and technology workforce. According to Eurostat, in 2025, more than 81.6 million people aged 15 to 74 were employed in science and technology occupations across the EU. Of those, 52.5% were women, equal to 42.8 million women. The number of women in these occupations rose by 27.9% compared with 2015, an increase of more than 9.3 million over a decade.

On the surface, the numbers resemble progress. However, Eurostat’s category requires context before that figure can be read accurately. The data refers to HRST, or Human Resources in Science and Technology, specifically people employed in science and technology occupations. These are roles where the main tasks require professional or technical knowledge in physical and life sciences, but also in social sciences and humanities. That definition is wider and broader than engineering, ICT, laboratory science, or high-tech research alone.

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Zooming In

The gender picture changes once the data moves from a wider definition of the workforce to the narrower scientist-and-engineer (research and manufacturing) subgroup.

Scientists and engineers represented almost a quarter of all people employed in science and technology in the EU in 2025. Eurostat describes scientists and engineers as often being the innovators at the centre of technology-led development, making them an important subgroup to focus on separately.

Women accounted for only 40.8% of scientists and engineers in 2025, despite making up more than half of the wider category. That share has increased by a mere 0.5 percentage points over the past decade. The absolute number of women working as scientists and engineers rose from 5.3 million in 2015 to 8.2 million in 2025, despite the push from national and international organisations to increase the number of women in the field. Europe has expanded the number of women in science and technology occupations over ten years. However, that expansion has not extended equally into the scientist-and-engineer subgroup, where much of Europe’s research and innovation work is conducted.

In 2025, of the 39.4 million women aged 25 to 64 working in science and technology occupations in the EU, 35.5 million worked in service activities. Only 2.7 million worked in manufacturing. Women accounted for 57.5% of science and technology employment in services, but only 31.3% in manufacturing.

In 2025, the highest shares of women employed in science and technology occupations were recorded in Latvia at 62.4%, followed by Hungary’s Great Plain and North region at 61.1%, Estonia at 60.5%, Poland’s Central macroregion at 60.4%, and Lithuania at 60.3%. No EU country recorded a majority of women among science and technology workers in manufacturing.

Break-down

Eurostat’s figures measure employment in broad science and technology occupations. They do not show job security, pay levels, management roles, promotion rates, research leadership, or whether women are concentrated in junior or senior workplace positions.

The classification of “senior” also requires additional explanation. Eurostat reports that 45.9% of science and technology workers aged 25 to 64 in the EU were classified as “senior” HRST in 2025. In this dataset, “senior” refers to workers aged 45 to 64. It does not mean senior manager, senior researcher, team lead, or decision-maker.

A high female share in the wider Human Resource Science and Technology (HRST) category does not parallel equal representation across scientists, engineers, manufacturing roles, senior posts, pay, research funding, or decision-making. These figures also reflect the occupational mix inside each country or region, not only structural progress across all areas of science and technology.

The Case Of Cyprus

Eurostat data places Cyprus’s overall science and technology employment at 37.2% of the labour force in 2025, slightly above the EU-27 figure of 36.9%, and above Greece at 26.8%, Malta at 33.9%, and Turkey at 18.2%. This figure covers the total share of the labour force employed in science and technology across all genders.

Progress Or Work-in-Progress?

52.5% in the broad category. 40.8% among scientists and engineers. 31.3% in manufacturing. Europe’s gender gap in science and technology hasn’t closed yet, and there is still work to be done to encourage and support more women to enter the field, especially in research and manufacturing.

Let’s not wait another decade for another couple of percentage points of hope.

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