Mario Draghi launches Rhine Group to boost European competitiveness

Mario Draghi, the former Italian Prime Minister and European Central Bank President, has officially launched the Rhine Group. This new independent think tank aims to transform the strategic recommendations from his 2024 report on European competitiveness into concrete economic and technological actions.

Co-chaired by Draghi and Patrick Collison, CEO of the digital payment infrastructure company Stripe, the group brings together a diverse assembly of economists, entrepreneurs, and political figures. Notable members include Spanish economist and former MEP Luis Garicano, as well as figures such as Philippe Aghion and Bruno Le Maire. The organization seeks to address Europe’s technological gap with the US and China, as well as its need for strategic autonomy and increased investment to combat economic stagnation.

The Rhine Group represents a convergence of traditional political leadership with significant private capital and Big Tech influence, aiming to reshape the continent’s industrial and digital landscape.