News
China’s “new normal”: what’s in it for businesses?
The best path to sustainable growth in China is through an open economy that fosters a level playing field between foreign and domestic companies. China should therefore not be tempted to restrict for...
Innovation principle can foster entrepreneurship
“Too much regulation and prescriptiveness can stifle innovation. That is why Europe needs the Innovation Principle, complementing the precautionary approach, to protect Europe’s ability to...
Future of EU SME policy discussed by EP SME Intergroup
“The EU should support SMEs both through a strengthened EU pro-SME action agenda and through energising the national SME policies”, Markus Beyrer, Director General of BUSINESSEUROPE, said...
BusinessEurope discusses topical issues with ALDE Party President
BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer met Hans van Baalen, President of the ALDE Party. The topical issues discussed included the importance of Schengen for the European Union, t...
2016 a decisive year for TTIP
In Davos, BusinessEurope President Emma Marcegaglia discussed with US Chamber President Tom Donohue how to advance negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and ensure a polit...
Trade policy discussed with Malmström
BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer and Director for International Affairs Luisa Santos met today European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström to discuss trade policy issues. A...
President Marcegaglia in Davos: “Fragmentation of Europe would be a total disaster”
“We need stronger political will to work together in Europe to address common challenges. Fragmentation of Europe would be a total disaster. The answer to migrant crisis is to act to...
Markus J. Beyrer meets Employers’ Group of the European Economic and Social Committee
“Europe is facing serious and tough challenges”, BUSINESSEUROPE Director General Markus J. Beyrer said at a meeting with the group of employers of the European Economic and Social Committe...
Beyrer and Daul agree that more Europe is needed
BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer met the President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Joseph Daul. As with most other major European political parties, we are in reg...
Climate summit COP21 deal: an important step forward, but not (yet) the full answer
The outcome of the COP21 climate summit in Paris is an important step forward for global efforts to reduce emissions and it is essential that all countries now deliver on their pledges. While many o...
The Paris agreement at the end of the road
After a long marathon of tough negotiations, the Paris agreement was adopted on Saturday 12 December. The French President of COP21, Laurent Fabius, presented the text as historic, ambitious, fair, su...
One looooong indaba away from the final agreement…
A new draft text of the Paris agreement has been released, after the Group of Paris plenary. The new text is the product of an intense night, with negotiations ending by 6 am. In t...
BusinessEurope signs Memoranda of Understanding with Ukrainian counterparts
Ahead of the EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) entering into force - foreseen for 1 January 2016 - it is important that cooperation between European and Ukrainian business orga...
Work has started in earnest
Work has started in earnest to resolve the difficult issues to reach the Paris agreement. The four working groups have been working hard and reported back to the Paris Committee.
Progress was repor...
The draft Paris agreement
After the political push by world leaders on Monday, negotiators have worked until Saturday 5 December to prepare a new streamlined text. It is down to 38 pages, from 50, with just under 900 pairs of...
ASGroup CEO event 2015
On 3 December, President Emma Marcegaglia, Director General Markus J. Beyrer, Vice-Presidents of BusinessEurope and CEOs of the Advisory and Support Group gathered in Brussels and met EU leaders....
It has started!
Three full days and nights of COP-21 and half a day have passed. The French Presidency is now directing the proceedings. Following the hype as well as strict security accompanying the visit and contri...
The doors are (nearly) open!
COP21 is approaching rapidly. The start of the ad-hoc meetings of the Durban Platform (ADP) have been brought forward to Sunday 29 November at 5pm at Le Bourget. The site is already open for those reg...
BusinessEurope reacts on the state of the Energy Union
“The commitment of the European Commission to take actions and be fast in the energy field is positive, because actions are needed. But great caution is needed on the design of concrete legislat...
Director General Markus J. Beyrer: “We need more Europe!”
“The only way to overcome the current challenges is not less Europe but more Europe”, BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer said at an event on Europe’s role in the w...
BusinessEurope Council of Presidents in Luxembourg
On invitation of FEDIL, the Business Federation of Luxembourg, Presidents of the 40 member federations of BusinessEurope met on 19 and 20 November in Luxembourg. They were received at an audience at t...
Pre-COP meeting in Paris
The French government held a “pre-COP” meeting from 8-10 November in Paris. It was attended by about 60 Ministers and although it was stressed that it was not a negotiating meeting, many o...
TTIP: what’s in it for social partners?
We must seize trade and investment opportunities to make sure the EU stays strong on the world scene and shapes globalisation, BUSINESSEUROPE Director General Markus J. Beyrer said at the event &ldquo...
BusinessEurope meets Russian industry
The trade and investment relations between the EU and Russia in the current political context were the main topic of discussion at a meeting between BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer an...