Press releases
Bilateral relations
New BusinessEurope President Pierre Gattaz: EU to retain leadership in times of trade protectionism
Today, Pierre Gattaz has taken office as President of BusinessEurope. CEO of Radiall and former President of the French business and employer federation Medef, he is succeeding Emma Marcegaglia. Two o...
EU single market
A bumpy road for EU mobility and road transport drivers
Today the European Parliament voted on the first EU mobility package and did not support the exclusion of international transport operations (transit, bi-lateral and cross-trade) from the posting of w...
European Council
EU Summit should act against protectionism and strengthen the EU
Ahead of the June EU Summit, European business supports EU leaders in their actions against protectionism. Europe must be united, strong and smart to respond to the current challenges.
EU growth is...
Bilateral relations
Union and business leaders issue joint appeal for urgent progress in Brexit negotiations
The TUC, CBI, ETUC and BusinessEurope met for the first time in London, ahead of June’s European Council meeting
Leaders call for agreement on key issues, including regulatory alignment, fricti...
Economy and finance
EU growth at risk of peaking
Launching BusinessEurope’s Spring 2018 Economic Outlook today, BusinessEurope President Emma Marcegaglia commented: “After a very strong 2017, businesses are increasingly concerned that growth i...
Industrial relations and EU labour law
Employment and Social Affairs Council: steps in the direction of a more realistic approach to social Europe
On 21 June, the Employment and Social Affairs Council (EPSCO) reached a general approach on the draft directive on transparent and predictable working conditions and on the draft directive on work-lif...
Bilateral relations
Brexit: EU and UK must deliver good customs solutions
Today BusinessEurope published a detailed explanation on the various customs implications of Brexit and the solutions that business requires to mitigate the impact on their operations. The analysis ad...
Data protection
Industry has a role to play in Europe’s cybersecure future
Today, the EU Telecommunications Council agreed a general approach on the Cybersecurity Act indicating the Council’s intention to take urgent action against Europe’s cybersecurity threats....
B20 and B7
G7 must show leadership committing to rules-based trade
Two months after business leaders of the seven most advanced economies – Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States – met in Quebec, Canada, it is now...
Bilateral relations
US duties – Bad news for the World Economy
Regrettably starting on 1 June, the EU will no longer be exempted from US additional duties and our steel and aluminium exports will be subject to additional tariffs of 25% and 10%, respectively.
Com...
Data protection
GDPR: Making improved data protection a reality
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into full force tomorrow (25 May) marking the largest change in data protection law Europe has ever seen. Discussions began six years ago and a...
Pierre Gattaz to succeed Emma Marcegaglia as President of BusinessEurope
During its meeting in Sofia today, the Council of Presidents of BusinessEurope unanimously elected Pierre Gattaz, current President of the French business federation MEDEF and CEO of Radiall, to succe...
Climate change
Climate negotiations: business community concerned about slow progress
The latest round of the United Nations climate change negotiations – the Bonn climate change conference – finished yesterday in Bonn, Germany. BusinessEurope is concerned about the slow pr...
Trade
U.S. decision on the Iran deal creates risks for political and economic stability
President Trump announced his decision to effectively pull out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal signed between China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, the United States, the E...
Economy and finance
EU’s post-2020 budget: Further increase research and innovation funding and reach swift agreement
Today, the European Commission released its proposal on a new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the EU’s budget for 2021-2027.
BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer made the fol...
Bilateral relations
U.S. duties: extension of EU’s temporary exemption is positive, but business needs predictability
The U.S. Administration announced yesterday that the EU’s temporary exemption from the decision to impose 25% additional duties on steel and 10% on aluminium, will be extended until 1 June.
Com...
Digital economy
Europe favours a responsible Digital Single Market
The European Commission launched today the 3rd Data Economy Package aiming to assess emerging data issues to ensure a fair Digital Single Market. Also, the Communication on Artificial Intelligence (AI...
Company law
Open the digital door and bring EU company law into 21st century
Today, the European Commission published its EU Company law upgraded Package which aims to facilitate companies’ use of digital technologies, specifically focusing on digital tools which allow c...
Bilateral relations
EU and US business committed to the transatlantic relationship: need to avoid major trade disruptions
EU and U.S. business leaders will meet in Washington D.C. for the ‘Transatlantic Business Works’ summit jointly organised by BusinessEurope and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on 16 April at...
Consumers/marketing
EU New Deal for Consumers: a solution in search of a problem
Following the release of the European Commission New Deal for Consumers, BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer made the following comment: “EU citizens already enjoy the most efficien...
Bilateral relations
Brexit: agreement on transition is positive for business
Today the European Council confirmed the political agreement reached by Brexit negotiators this week on parts of the legal text of the withdrawal agreement including a transition period that will last...
Bilateral relations
US duties: temporary exemption of the EU is a step forward
The U.S. Administration announced that the European Union would be temporarily exempted of the decision to impose 25% additional duties on steel and 10% on aluminium until 1 May.
Markus J. Beyrer, Di...
Economy and finance
European social partners statement on the multiannual financial framework (MFF)
The European social partners are deeply concerned about a potential delay in the adoption of the post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework for political reasons.
European citizens, workers and enterp...
Economy and finance
Digital taxation should be based on OECD agreement
Following the release of the European Commission proposals on taxation of the digital economy, BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer made the following comment: "As the global economy...