Geopolitical tensions and structural economic shifts are reshaping the global economy. Persistent global imbalances, high public debt, financial vulnerabilities, demographic pressures, and slower growth are creating new challenges for policymakers. European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis joins the FCCT to discuss how the European Union is navigating this challenging global economic landscape, including the implications of protectionism, economic security, and growing tensions between the world’s major powers. He will explore the outlook for the global economy, EU’s relations with Asia and the European Union’s competitiveness agenda, including efforts to simplify regulation and deepen the single market and capital markets in Europe. The discussion will also address the future of the international economic and financial system, as well as EU’s continued support for Ukraine.
One of Europe’s most experienced economic policymakers, Valdis Dombrovskis has been the European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, as well as Implementation and Simplification since December 2024. His portfolio includes the coordination and implementation of the EU’s economic policies, as well as overseeing the reduction of administrative burden and ensuring better implementation of EU rules. From 2019 to 2024, he served as the executive vice-president of the European Commission responsible for An Economy that Works for People and was also in charge of Trade. He previously served as vice-president of the European Commission from 2014 to 2019, overseeing the Euro and Social Dialogue, as well as financial stability, financial services, and the Capital Markets Union.
He is Latvia’s longest-serving head of government with three terms as Prime Minister (2009–2014). He has also been finance minister, a member of the Latvian Parliament and European Parliament. Before politics, he was the chief economist at the Bank of Latvia, as well as a research assistant at Mainz University, the Institute of Solid-State Physics in Latvia and University of Maryland. Valdis Dombrovskis was born on August 5, 1971.
Interviewer: Dr Fuadi Pitsuwan, from Thammasat University.
Moderator: Panu Wongcha-um, president of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand.
