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This study examines the synergistic effects of digital and green economies on sustainable development in 35 Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries over the period 2010–2021. Using a two-step System GMM estimator, we analyze the interaction among digital technology index (DT), green total factor productivity (GP), and adjusted net savings (ANS) as a percentage of GNI. The baseline results reveal a negative association between DT and ANS at low levels of green productivity. However, this penalty is mitigated as green productivity rises indicating a synergistic effect. Robustness checks across income levels, regions, and infrastructure types uncover heterogeneities. Specifically, the marginal penalty associated with fixed broadband subscription improves by 0.41% point as economies move from the 25th to the 50th percentile of green productivity, and by a larger 0.828% points when moving from the 25th to the 75th percentile. While basic mobile connectivity remains sustainability-neutral, high-capacity fixed broadband requires environmental efficiency to avoid eroding national savings. Furthermore, digitalization attenuates the negative relationship between natural resource rents and ANS. These findings underscore that achieving sustainable development in SSA requires synchronized policy strategies rather than isolated investments in technology or green initiatives.

This study examines the synergistic effects of digital and green economies on sustainable development in 35 Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries over the period 2010–2021. Using a two-step System GMM estimator, we analyze the interaction among digital technology index (DT), green total factor productivity (GP), and adjusted net savings (ANS) as a percentage of GNI. The baseline results reveal a negative association between DT and ANS at low levels of green productivity. However, this penalty is mitigated as green productivity rises indicating a synergistic effect. Robustness checks across income levels, regions, and infrastructure types uncover heterogeneities. Specifically, the marginal penalty associated with fixed broadband subscription improves by 0.41% point as economies move from the 25th to the 50th percentile of green productivity, and by a larger 0.828% points when moving from the 25th to the 75th percentile. While basic mobile connectivity remains sustainability-neutral, high-capacity fixed broadband requires environmental efficiency to avoid eroding national savings. Furthermore, digitalization attenuates the negative relationship between natural resource rents and ANS. These findings underscore that achieving sustainable development in SSA requires synchronized policy strategies rather than isolated investments in technology or green initiatives.

Heute sprechen Alexander Roth und Wolf-Peter Schill mit Dr. Anna Billerbeck und Alexander Burkhardt vom Fraunhofer ISI über Fernwärme und Wärmespeicher. Wie wichtig ist der Wärmesektor für die Energiewende und warum geht es dort langsamer vor als beim Strom? Was ist eigentlich Fernwärme, wie hat sie ...

Am Dienstag hat das Parlament grünes Licht für neue EU-Vorschriften zur Überprüfung ausländischer Investitionen geben, um Sicherheitsrisiken zu minimieren.
Ausschuss für internationalen Handel

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2026 - EP

Kedden a Parlament új uniós szabályokat fogadott el a külföldi befektetések átvilágítására a biztonsági kockázatok megelőzése érdekében.
Nemzetközi Kereskedelmi Bizottság

Forrás : © Európai Unió, 2026 - EP

On Tuesday, Parliament approved new EU rules for the screening of foreign investments to prevent security risks.
Committee on International Trade

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

On Tuesday, Parliament approved new EU rules for the screening of foreign investments to prevent security risks.
Committee on International Trade

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The new regulation replaces measures due to expire on 30 June 2026 and will help protect the EU steel industry from the negative effects of a global steel surplus.
Committee on International Trade

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The new regulation replaces measures due to expire on 30 June 2026 and will help protect the EU steel industry from the negative effects of a global steel surplus.
Committee on International Trade

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The new regulation replaces measures due to expire on 30 June 2026 and will help protect the EU steel industry from the negative effects of a global steel surplus.
Committee on International Trade

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Die neue Verordnung ersetzt die am 30. Juni 2026 auslaufenden Maßnahmen und soll die Stahlindustrie vor negativen Folgen eines weltweiten Stahlüberschusses schützen.
Ausschuss für internationalen Handel

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2026 - EP

Kedden az Európai Parlamentben tartott ünnepségen átadták az Európai Érdemrend első kitüntetéseit az integrációhoz és az uniós értékekhez való jelentős hozzájárulás elismeréseként.

Forrás : © Európai Unió, 2026 - EP

Am Dienstag wurden die ersten Preisträgerinnen und Preisträger des Europäischen Verdienstordens für ihren Beitrag zur Integration und zur Verteidigung europäischer Werte geehrt.

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2026 - EP

Abou Bakr al-Mainuki a été tué lors d'une frappe conjointe de précision le 16 mai 2026 dans le bassin du lac Tchad. Donald Trump l’a présenté comme le « numéro deux mondial » de l’État islamique, mais les experts soulignent qu’il s’agissait d’un chef régional, non d’un dirigeant global.

• Financial markets still provide financing on a large scale for investments in environmentally harmful activities, while projects conducive to the green transformation are often not funded. 
• Sustainable finance policies, such as new reporting requirements and standards for sus¬tain¬able financial instruments, have so far mostly focused on creating transparency. However, transparency alone is insufficient to turn the financial sector from a driver of en¬viron¬mental crises into a lever for the green transformation.
• Many countries of the Global South face special challenges, including high interest rates, currency depreciation and limited oppor¬¬tu¬nities to shape global policies (e.g. banking regulations and standards for sus-tainable finan¬cial instruments) in their interests.
• Aligning financial markets with sustainability objectives requires a comprehensive policy mix comprising policies that change incen-tives. These policies can include credit guidance instruments such as credit targets, green refinancing schemes and differentiated capital requirements, and tax policies such as differentiated capital gains taxes for green and non-green assets.
• International forums, such as the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) and 
the Sustainable Banking and Finance Network (SBFN), remain valuable for mutual learning and for addressing cross-border effects of finan¬cial regulations.
• Policies to mobilise private resources should not be considered as a substitute for public investments or public steering, which are both crucial for the green transformation.

• Financial markets still provide financing on a large scale for investments in environmentally harmful activities, while projects conducive to the green transformation are often not funded. 
• Sustainable finance policies, such as new reporting requirements and standards for sus¬tain¬able financial instruments, have so far mostly focused on creating transparency. However, transparency alone is insufficient to turn the financial sector from a driver of en¬viron¬mental crises into a lever for the green transformation.
• Many countries of the Global South face special challenges, including high interest rates, currency depreciation and limited oppor¬¬tu¬nities to shape global policies (e.g. banking regulations and standards for sus-tainable finan¬cial instruments) in their interests.
• Aligning financial markets with sustainability objectives requires a comprehensive policy mix comprising policies that change incen-tives. These policies can include credit guidance instruments such as credit targets, green refinancing schemes and differentiated capital requirements, and tax policies such as differentiated capital gains taxes for green and non-green assets.
• International forums, such as the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) and 
the Sustainable Banking and Finance Network (SBFN), remain valuable for mutual learning and for addressing cross-border effects of finan¬cial regulations.
• Policies to mobilise private resources should not be considered as a substitute for public investments or public steering, which are both crucial for the green transformation.

• Financial markets still provide financing on a large scale for investments in environmentally harmful activities, while projects conducive to the green transformation are often not funded. 
• Sustainable finance policies, such as new reporting requirements and standards for sus¬tain¬able financial instruments, have so far mostly focused on creating transparency. However, transparency alone is insufficient to turn the financial sector from a driver of en¬viron¬mental crises into a lever for the green transformation.
• Many countries of the Global South face special challenges, including high interest rates, currency depreciation and limited oppor¬¬tu¬nities to shape global policies (e.g. banking regulations and standards for sus-tainable finan¬cial instruments) in their interests.
• Aligning financial markets with sustainability objectives requires a comprehensive policy mix comprising policies that change incen-tives. These policies can include credit guidance instruments such as credit targets, green refinancing schemes and differentiated capital requirements, and tax policies such as differentiated capital gains taxes for green and non-green assets.
• International forums, such as the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) and 
the Sustainable Banking and Finance Network (SBFN), remain valuable for mutual learning and for addressing cross-border effects of finan¬cial regulations.
• Policies to mobilise private resources should not be considered as a substitute for public investments or public steering, which are both crucial for the green transformation.

On Tuesday, the first laureates of the European Order of Merit were honoured for their significant contribution to EU integration and values in a ceremony at the European Parliament.

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

On Tuesday, the first laureates of the European Order of Merit were honoured for their significant contribution to EU integration and values in a ceremony at the European Parliament.

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The policy brief argues that Greece should re-establish a substantial bilateral development aid programme, as its current contribution remains particularly low compared both to its international commitments and to pre-crisis levels. Development aid is not only as an act of solidarity, but also an instrument of foreign policy, security, and public diplomacy.

• Greek official development assistance remains very low (0.14% of Gross National Income in 2024), far below the country’s international commitments.
• The crises in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan require increased humanitarian assistance and reconstruction support.
• Development aid is an instrument of foreign policy, security, and public diplomacy. It is an investment in stability and international credibility. If Greece wishes to play a role in its broader geopolitical region and participate actively in major European Union initiatives, like the Global Gateway, it must develop a bilateral aid programme.

Read here (in Greek) the Policy brief by Asteris Huliaras, Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of the Peloponnese; Member of the Advisory Board of ELIAMEP.