Press releases
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...
Economy and finance
10 years after crisis: EU recovery slower than US and Canada
BusinessEurope publishes EU Reform Barometer 2018
Today BusinessEurope has published its “EU Reform Barometer 2018 - The EU economy 10 years after the start of the crisis”, with data that shows t...
Competitiveness Council
EU Single Market: Council should build on 25 years of success
- EU ministers should take bold action now -
Since its start 25 years ago, the EU Single Market has been the cornerstone of European integration and a strong growth and employment driver, brin...
Bilateral relations
US duties: EU should react appropriately
Unfortunately, US President Trump confirmed his decision to impose additional duties on aluminium and steel without an exemption for the EU. European business has strongly warned against creating far-...
Bilateral relations
US risks creating far-reaching disruption in world trade
Imposing additional duties on aluminium and steel would bring the world to the verge of a trade war. Commenting on the announcement by US President Trump to be willing to impose 25% additional duties...
Industrial relations and EU labour law
Posting of workers: A bad deal that will harm the functioning of the Single Market for services
On 28 February, the trilogue negotiators reached a provisional deal on a revision of the posting directive.
The business community regrets that the Bulgarian Council Presidency and the European...
Europe is our core business since 1958: BusinessEurope is celebrating its 60th anniversary tomorrow (28 February 2018)
- See our history and watch our livestream of BUSINESSEUROPE Day 2018 on 1 March 2018 -
Exactly 60 years ago, on 28 February 1958, the Presidents and Directors General of the national Belgian, Dut...
Bilateral relations
EU and US need to work together on key international issues like trade and sanctions
EU business leaders meet Secretary of US Treasury Steven Mnuchin
Today, BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer will meet the Secretary of US Treasury Steven Mnuchin, as part of the Global B...
Governance
Industrial policy should be high up on the agenda
Markus J. Beyrer at the Informal Competitiveness Council in Sofia
The informal meeting of the EU ministers responsible for competitiveness takes place today in Sofia under the Bulgarian Presidency...
Energy
EU energy efficiency proposal needs a more realistic target and more flexibility
Today, the European Parliament voted on the energy efficiency proposal, one of the key building blocks of the Clean Energy Package. The Parliament adopted the EU’s energy efficiency binding targ...