Europe’s competitiveness agenda is in full swing. Cutting red tape for business is now a central mantra of EU policymaking, Brussels is digesting new plans to accelerate Europe’s industrial capacity, and the single market is getting new political momentum as well as a rebrand.
But as a new war in the Middle East adds to existing geopolitical turmoil and economic disruption, calls are growing for the EU to become more self-sufficient in areas such as tech, energy and defense.
Against this backdrop, how is the EU’s competitiveness push shaping up so far? Is it moving quickly enough? Are the right policy levers being pulled? And how can European policymakers balance the push for growth without compromising priorities such as environmental protection and regulatory certainty?
Follow all the discussions and news from our spring edition of POLITICO’s Competitive Europe Summit as we discuss these questions with politicians, policymakers and experts.
Beloved social justice campaigner and Catholic priest, Father Bob Maguire, has died aged 88. Known as the "people's priest", Father Bob dedicated his life to…
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/two-people-shake-hands-in-a-room-decorated-with-balloons.png?id=53780859&width=1200&height=800&coordinates=29%2C0%2C235%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>How often do you experience something unforgettable with a group of total strangers? For most of us, the closest we get is sharing a funny moment on public transit. But 19 Quebecers, who had never met each other before, can now say they've <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/revenu-quebec-lotto-649-prize" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won the lottery</a> together, splitting a <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/lotto-max-winning-numbers-september-10-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$5 million jackpot</a>.</p><p>In the September 18 <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/loto-quebec-lotto-649-jackpot-winners" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lotto 6/49 draw</a>, these lucky players scooped up the Classic Jackpot thanks to a <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/a-group-of-100-quebec-max-winners-will-split-the-1-million-jackpot" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Formule groupe</em> ticket</a> purchased online. Each member of this pool gets to pocket a sweet $250,000 — but one Montrealer, Alain Richard, had a little extra luck. He bought two shares, walking away with $500,000. </p><p>"It’s good timing," Richard told <a href="https://societe.lotoquebec.com/en/media-and-partners/press-releases/2024/octobre/gagnants-groupe-du-vendredi-13-lotto-649-2024-10-04" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Loto-Québec</a> after the win. Then again, is there ever a bad time to be handed half-a-million dollars?</p><p>In some ways, this victory is the ultimate twist of fate. Raynald Cusson, from Centre-du-Québec, playfully named the group the “Friday the 13th group” after the infamous superstition. However, rather than experiencing bad luck, the group ended up winning a free ticket in the September 14 draw, which helped them snag the $5 million jackpot. </p><p>But Cusson isn't the only one with an incredible story to tell.</p><p>Thirty-year-old Jérémie Gagnon from Montérégie is starting a new professional journey, and for him, the timing couldn’t be better. The $250,000 gives him a cushion as he embarks on this new path. </p><p>Meanwhile, Anik Forest from Laurentides was in the middle of a power outage when Loto-Québec called her with the news of her win. As if on cue, the power came back on just as she found out she was $250,000 richer — an electrifying moment in every sense of the word.</p><p>The winners come from all over the province, including Capitale-Nationale, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Laurentides, and Montreal. They finally got the chance to meet at the Loto-Québec office when they received their prize.</p><p>This marks the seventh Lotto 6/49 jackpot win in Quebec over the past few months, according to Loto-Québec. With over 90 prizes of $1 million or more already awarded in 2024, the province seems to be on a serious lucky streak. If you were thinking about grabbing a lottery ticket, now might just be the perfect time! </p><p><em>If you or someone you know is struggling with problem gambling, refer to <a href="https://aidejeu.ca/en/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">these resources available across Quebec</a>. Help is available.</em></p><p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em></p>
