The Brussels Report Podcast

Welcome to the sixth episode of the Brussels Report podcast.

My name is Peter Klepper. I'm the editor of BrusselsReport.

I'm very happy today to have as my guest, Fredrik Erickson, who is the director of E. Saip.

E. Saip is a very influential think tank here in Brussels and in EU policy circles,

dealing with international economic policy and regulation.

Frederick, the director in particular, he's also quite influential.

He was selected by the Financial Times as one of the most influential voices when it comes to trade

here in Brussels. So welcome, Frederick. Thanks, Peter. Thanks for having me and congratulations

on the launch of the podcast and Brussels report. Thank you. Thank you. I think it's going well and

and it's great to have you here, especially as a suite, perhaps as Sweden,

the one of the member states in the EU that is, let's say, still more in favor of free trade across the political spectrum, both the left and the right.

So I don't think it's a coincidence that you are from Sweden, but of course in every member state,

there are fighters for free trade that we can witness.

So let's start with something that has become, unfortunately,

I would say, more fashionable in Brussels and that is EU industrial policy. So in particular,

the French EU commissioner, Thierre Breton, is pushing for this. So perhaps could you shine your light on this?

I mean, what are the latest developments?

Because to a degree, the EU has always been pursuing some kind as something like an industrial

policy.

And do you think what is being proposed is going in the right direction or in the

wrong direction? Or are there perhaps at least some things that are good about it?

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