US proposes releasing part of frozen Russian assets into a Washington-run vehicle
The US has proposed that European states free a portion of the Russian state assets blocked since the invasion of Ukraine. The money would go into an instrument overseen by Washington, according to the Financial Times, as cited by ZDF. The aim is to revive peace talks. The plan was put forward by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. European delegates rejected it.
The assets sit mostly in European institutions, so Europe holds the legal custody and the leverage. Moving them under US oversight would shift control over reconstruction money, and over any sanctions bargain with Moscow, from Brussels to Washington. That explains the refusal.
Germany’s health insurers hold the extra contribution at 2.9% for 2027
Health Minister Carsten Linnemann said the average supplementary contribution for statutory health insurance stays at 2.9% next year. The insurers’ official estimators recommended the rate on Wednesday, according to ZDF. Linnemann called it the main goal after repeated increases. Finances remain strained. A flat rate on paper does not mean costs have eased. Pressure shifts to the funds’ reserves and to future budget choices.
Higher energy costs are reaching shelf prices
The ifo institute’s price-expectations index, which tracks the share of firms planning price rises, rose to 22.7 points in September from 21.4 in August (ifo). Its economist Timo Wollmershäuser expects German inflation to top 3% in coming months. Gas and power prices hit their highest since late 2022 in mid-September, and utilities are expected to raise bills in winter.
Non-obvious angle: better measured skills explain most of the global income gap
New CEPR research finds that differences in capital and human capital account for 55–70% of income gaps per worker between countries, up from about 30% in earlier estimates. Counting education quality and work experience, not just years of schooling, drives the change. The implication for aid and investment budgets is that training quality may matter more than previously assumed.
Berlin’s left coalition talks hang on an antisemitism dispute
Exploratory talks among Berlin’s SPD, Greens and Left Party continue today despite a dispute over antisemitic currents in the Left, according to Politico. The national SPD faces weak polls ahead of its December party conference.
Catch the next Gist for the continent’s moving pieces.
