The 3rd Ministerial meeting of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) and the 1st Transatlantic Labour Dialogue will take place on 5 December. We welcome these platforms to discuss a coordinated EU-US approach on major bilateral and global challenges. "Finding a negotiated solution that addresses the discriminatory elements included in the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), ensuring that European companies and products are not put in a disadvantageous position, is indispensable", said Director General Markus J. Beyrer. "If implemented in a non-discriminatory way, the IRA can also bring about opportunities for EU-US cooperation, leading to more investment and employment across the pond. Increased climate ambition and adding investments in clean technologies and solutions are noble objectives that we share but they must not come at the expense of European interests and rather strengthen Transatlantic ties.” In prep for the TTC meeting, we also published a joint statement with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. - Read more
BusinessEurope, Eurochambres, and SMEunited have joined forces to analyse the application of the SME Test across the European Commission services. 26 impact assessments have been checked against the European Commission’s own better regulation guidelines to assess whether and to what extent the SME Test, a mandatory tool in ensuring an SME-proofed regulatory regime, is carried out. The conclusions of our work provide a mixed picture. While better regulation principles have steadily grown in importance in the working procedures of the EU over the past two decades, the SME Test guidelines are still not applied consistently by all Commission services. BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer said: "The impacts and costs created by Commission proposals on SMEs are too often neglected. This needs to be improved by consistently devising mitigating measures based on solid and reliable data. Not only direct but also indirect costs should be identified and reduced if not eliminated". - Read more
The Presidents of BusinessEurope’s 40 member federations gathered in Stockholm and discussed their priorities for the future Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Minister for European Affairs Jessika Roswall. They also discussed with European Commissioner Thierry Breton how the European Union should support industry during the energy crisis while preserving the Single Market. "The current crisis is dramatically exacerbating the risks of Europe’s deindustrialisation. We urgently need a game-changing solution at EU level to mitigate exceptionally high energy prices, and give regulatory breathing space to companies. The Swedish Presidency must join forces with the Commission and the European Parliament to ease the legislative burdens for companies", said BusinessEurope President Fredrik Persson. - Read more
BusinessEurope welcomes the focus of the proposed European Year of skills 2023 on lifelong learning, and with the aim of boosting competitiveness, participation in training and talent in line with changing labour market needs. Companies are facing significant labour and skills shortages, combined with the need to support up and re-skilling measures in view of the digital and green transitions. Access to an appropriately skilled workforce remains a key factor of a company’s competitiveness and needs to be strengthened. Increasing participation in STEM-related programmes is particularly important. This includes arousing pupils’ and students’ interest for STEM subjects early on, and increasing female participation in tertiary-level STEM subjects and their following job/career choice. The European year needs to be synchronised with broader efforts to underpin progress in the European semester context with investments, necessary reforms and effective social dialogue aiming to foster skills development. - Read more
While some progress has been achieved at the COP27, it is far from being sufficient. Watch our President Fredrik Persson talk about what European businesses expect from the negotiations.
BusinessEurope President Fredrik Persson, Director General Markus J. Beyrer and 30 business leaders from our Advisory and Support Group met with the political leadership of the European Commission in Brussels. They exchanged views with President von der Leyen, Executive Vice-Presidents Valdis Dombrovskis and Margrethe Vestager, as well as European Commissioners Gentiloni and Valean. Together they tackled a range of issues of pressing relevance for business such as the energy crisis, competitiveness, the economic and geopolitical situation and the twin climate and digital transition.
The Philippines is one of the fastest growing economies with an untapped potential in a number of sectors such as renewable energy to infrastructure, and essential resources such as raw materials and a rich talent pool, in the increasingly strategic region in the ASEAN. Join us in an open...
The world today is at a critical inflection point. The sheer number of ongoing crises calls for bold collective action. The World Economic Forum annual meeting will convene leaders from government, business, and civil society in Davos to address the state of the world and discuss priorities for...
The #TDI23, the future conference of the BDI with impulses from business, politics and society, will take place as a hybrid event at the Verti Music Hall Berlin, Germany.
