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The major changes in relations between blocs that are taking place in 2022 are driving profound structural transformations in areas such as technology, defence and energy policy. Furthermore, gas, a key component of the energy transition, has recently become a political weapon, putting the many countries and industries that rely on this energy source on high alert.

We review recent developments in the European tourism sector, as well as its macroeconomic impact and the challenges it faces, after the number of international tourists who visited the continent last year exceeded the level recorded in 2019 by 12 million.

Given its official «data-dependent» strategy, the ECB’s upcoming decisions will be subject to the current signals provided by the data, although they will likely also be conditioned by expectations regarding the US economic agenda and its consequences for the future.

Following the rise in the cost of energy imports in 2022, the recovery of the foreign sector was particularly rapid in 2023 and the four largest economies in the euro area have improved their current account balances, although only Spain has managed to surpass the 2019 figure.

The health crisis brought about by COVID-19 has forced large parts of society to quickly and unexpectedly adapt to remote working, a relatively minority practice in Spain prior to the outbreak of the pandemic. Does Spain simply lack the potential to telework or, on the contrary, does it has the potential but fails to exploit it?

Despite the efforts made in recent years to reduce energy intensity in Europe and boost the role of renewables as alternative energy sources, the region remains sensitive to shifts in international energy prices. The current situation represents a new challenge, but also a new opportunity to accelerate the transition towards a sustainable and secure energy model.