Our Scans · EU Exit Accounting · Weekly Summary

• [New] Three talent acquisition trends will define the second half of 2026: agentic AI reaching mainstream deployment, EU AI Act compliance deadlines arriving in August, and quality-of-hire accountability intensifying as TA budgets tighten. Pin
• Fiscal policy is expected to be slightly expansionary in 2026-supported by the rising utilization of EU funds as the RRF draws to a close-before turning broadly neutral in 2027. Economy and Finance
• On the US side, the Trump administration must better understand and account for European concerns regarding the CLOUD Act and the durability of the EU-US Data Privacy Framework - or risk eroding its technological dominance not only in China, but also in Europe. Atlantic Council
• EU: Europe's new digital and green industrial policies may offer both opportunities (e.g. chip fab subsidies in Germany) and compliance burdens (strict privacy, labour). Risk Intelligence Service
• EU AI Act compliance is existential for European enterprises: Governance frameworks are not optional; €30M fines and operational disruption from regulatory action justify proactive, compliance-first deployment strategies. AetherLink
• A working understanding of the EU AI Act equips New York lawyers to provide strategic guidance, helping clients anticipate regulatory requirements, manage risk and avoid costly compliance missteps. New York State Bar Association - NYSBA
• The Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA's) £9.1 billion motor finance redress scheme - by total cost the largest consumer compensation programme in British history - is suspended in legal limbo, with a tribunal hearing no earlier than October and a ruling expected in mid-November. The Modern Regulator
• The next phase, through PSD3 and the wider EU open finance agenda, could give Danish fintech firms more room to build services around data, identity, embedded finance and personalised financial management. The Fintech Times
• The primary risks in 2026 include non compliance with the new EU Digital Product Passport mandates and financial instability caused by high inventory requirements. Athleisurebasics
• Questions remain about whether the EU can afford to finance the Global Gateway project at €330 billion, whilst China's Belt and Road Initiative intends to spend $1.1 trillion, more than triple the envisioned amount for the Global Gateway initiative. ISI

Last updated: 19 June 2026