“The way forward regarding social policy is to reform education and training systems, employment policies and regulations and social protection systems in a coherent way”, said BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer at the 14th Congress of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) on 21 May in Vienna. National trade union delegates from 38 European countries and special guests from Europe and beyond, including Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, and Alexander Van der Bellen, President of Austria, participated at the event, which takes place until Friday 24 May. “It is very important that the European social partners regularly discuss their respective visions and what they can do together to make sure that the EU delivers for companies and workers”, Beyrer pointed out.
Photo copyright: Erik Luntang

“We are two weeks before crucial European elections. Europe’s achievements must not be taken for granted”, said BusinessEurope President Pierre Gattaz, speaking at a roundtable on day 2 of the European Business Summit in Brussels together with Bernard Gilliot, President of FEB-VBO, Henryka Bochniarz, President of Lewiatan, and Fredrik Persson, Chair of Swedish Enterprise. The EU single market, international trade, our common values, innovation, climate and the environment, employment, digitalisation…  “We should be more engaged, communicate and explain Europe better”, he stressed, outlining the business ambition for 2030: an EU that is strong and setting the agenda in the world, an EU that is a global leader in innovation, digitalisation and sustainability; an EU that is functioning efficiently; an EU that is economically cohesive and socially inclusive. “We need Europe to transform threats in opportunities”, Gattaz underlined.

“Recent months have reminded us of the fragility of the EU economy, with lower business growth and confidence,” commented BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer at the Macroeconomic Dialogue meeting at political level today. “This should be a wake-up call to EU leaders regarding the need to strengthen the resilience of the EU economy and raise our long-term growth potential. Businesses are looking to Member States to step up their implementation of growth-enhancing structural reforms.” The Macroeconomic Dialogue provides a forum for exchanging views between the European Commission, Council, European Central Bank and social partners. Council press release