Recalling my past clash with German MP Hans Olaf-Henkel

"...if Europe was able to cut tax evasion by half that would mean an annual revenue of around 500 billion which is more than the annual total net income of 15 Google champions...."

https://pacheco-torgal.blogspot.com/2020/01/a-irritacao-do-eurodeputado-alemao-hans.html

The excerpt above is from an email I sent in 2019 to several thousand colleagues, including dozens of Members of the European Parliament-MPs. One of the recipients, Hans Olaf Henkel, was displeased with its content and expressed his frustration in a reply. 

Nonetheless, that email is only mentioned here as an introduction to the European Commission's important legal victory in a €13 billion tax dispute with Apple. Now, EU officials must continue their pursuit of the rest of the tax evaders, who cost the EU budget €1 trillion annually. This revenue is urgently needed, especially following the recent Draghi report, published yesterday, which calls for an €800 billion annual boost in European investment https://commission.europa.eu/document/97e481fd-2dc3-412d-be4c-f152a8232961_en

In Part B, "In-depth analysis and recommendations" on pages 240 and 241, it is stated that while Europe struggles to attract and retain top research talent, partly due to bureaucratic hurdles. In contrast, US universities, with concentrated financial resources and a clear focus on leading global rankings, consistently produce high-impact research. Of course, this depiction does not fully capture the broader scientific landscape in Europe. While it's true that many institutions are burdened by bureaucracy, others have significantly reduced it. A prime example is Germany’s SPRIND innovation agency, where minimizing red tape is a priority. Successful teams, for instance, are not required to provide detailed proof of how they spend their funds. https://sciencebusiness.net/news/r-d-funding/inside-germanys-sprind-innovation-agency-anti-horizon-europe

On page 214, it is also stated that in Europe 'researchers have few incentives to become entrepreneurs.' This reminds me of something I wrote several months ago when I argued that, to foster innovation in European universities, the most effective strategy is to emulate Sweden's model and reinstate the professor's privilege. The evidence clearly shows that abolishing this so-called 'privilege' was not only harmful but also counterproductive. https://19-pacheco-torgal-19.blogspot.com/2024/03/analyzing-60-million-inventions-to.html 

Furthermore, a crucial solution lies in the European Union introducing strict and transparent minimum standards for appointing full professors at public universities. Such measures would safeguard the integrity of academic appointments by eradicating nepotism and preventing promotions based on political influence or personal connections. It is evident that professors who have ascended the academic ladder through corrupt practices are unlikely to maintain high ethical standards.  For the European academic community to achieve global competitiveness, it must first ensure the integrity of its research. This is essential because, without a steadfast and unwavering commitment to ethical principles, genuine academic excellence will remain perpetually out of reach.