Elena Sisto
Email: [email protected]
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Areas of Expertise: European Union EU Trade Agreements Agriculture Digital Economy
Elena Sisto is an Economist at ECIPE specialising in trade and digital trade. She holds a master’s degree in Economic Analysis and European Policy from the Free University of Brussels and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Strasbourg. At ECIPE, Elena’s work focuses on the intersection of trade policy and digital transformation, with a particular emphasis on deep trade agreements and cross-border data flows. She has co-authored policy briefs on digital trade and contributed to reports on trade, competitiveness, and industrial policy. Her interests also include family economics and environmental issues.
ECIPE Occasional Papers
Privacy at a Price? An Empirical Analysis of GDPR’s Impact on EU Trade Flows
The introduction of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 created conditions that could raise the cost of trading services with the EU, especially where cross-border transfers of personal data are required. This paper examines whether the GDPR has truly affected trade in digital services between EU member states and third countries. Using a triple-difference strategy that compares EU trade with partners whose cross-border transfer regimes...
ECIPE Occasional Papers
The Trade Effects of AI Provisions in PTAs: Does Non-Binding Matter?
This paper examines whether non-binding (“soft”) AI-related provisions in preferential trade agreements (PTAs) move trade and how their effects compare with binding (“hard”) provisions. The motivation is straightforward: digital rules are spreading quickly, but legal enforceability is uneven. We ask whether non-binding instruments (standards work, data-innovation clauses, interoperability programmes) can deliver trade gains in AI-intensive sectors even...
ECIPE Occasional Papers
Mapping the Quantum Ecosystems: How Are Economies Positioning Themselves for Innovation Success
Quantum technologies are among the most complex and promising innovations of our time. Their advancement relies not only on breakthrough science, but also on the capacity of countries, institutions, and companies to collaborate across borders, sectors, and disciplines, bringing together the expertise and resources needed to turn innovation into market-ready solutions. No country or region alone is in the lead – this is not a race between China and the US. Nor is...
ECIPE Occasional Papers
Boosting Efficiency and Quality in EU Public Services: The Need for a European Multi-Cloud-First Strategy
Unprecedented Opportunity for Public Service Modernisation EU governments have an unprecedented opportunity to unlock up to EUR 450 billion in annual fiscal savings by modernising public services through advanced multi-cloud solutions, cloud-based AI, and other deep tech innovations. As estimated in this study, this figure highlights the transformative impact of digitised government services – not only in improving service quality and operational efficiency but...
Media Mention
A Road to Nowhere: Why the UK-EU Reset is Not the Answer
ECIPE paper, "Reinventing Europe’s Single Market: A Way Forward to Align Ideals and Action” referenced in Prosperity Institute's study
Media Mention
Die EU verliert an Gewicht, China und Russland gewinnen
The Geoeconomic Interconnectivity Index receives special coverage by the Frankfurter Allgemeine.
Media Mention
The critical role of US cloud services providers in the EU
ECIPE study "Boosting Efficiency and Quality in EU Public Services: The Need for a European Multi-Cloud-First Strategy" referenced in an AmCham Briefing.
Media Mention
Economic Security and Digital Trade: Time for an EU-US Digital Agreement
Several ECIPE studies quoted in an analysis by the National Board of Trade Sweden.
Article
Attractivité française : des atouts et des soucis
Elena Sisto is interviewed by the Newsletter BLOCS on French attractiveness remaining strong in sectors like quantum technologies, but facing macroeconomic challenges and competition from US industrial policies.
Book or Paper
The Geoeconomic Interconnectivity Index
Report developed with Bertelsmann Stiftung and The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw). It presents how interconnected the EU is with its neighbours compared to China, Russia, and the US – across trade, finance, and economic policy.
Book or Paper
Mitigating Burdens: Addressing the Impact of EU Sustainable Development Regulations on Neighbouring Countries
Fifth paper crafted in collaboration with Bertelsmann Stiftung under the "Sovereign Europe: Strategic Management of Global Interdependence" project, focusing on the relationships between the European Union (EU) and its neighbouring countries in the EU's indirect-land-use-change (ILUC) rules.
Book or Paper
Overcoming Barriers: How the EU Can Improve Trade Finance Access for Neighbouring Countries
Fourth paper crafted in collaboration with Bertelsmann Stiftung under the "Sovereign Europe: Strategic Management of Global Interdependence" project focusing on the relationships between the European Union (EU) and its neighbouring countries in financial services, with a particular focus on trade finance.
Book or Paper
Beyond Barriers: Rethinking CAP to Enable Agricultural Export Diversity in the EU Neighbourhood
Third paper crafted in collaboration with Bertelsmann Stiftung under the "Sovereign Europe: Strategic Management of Global Interdependence" project focusing on the EU’s agricultural trade relations with its neighbours.
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