Press releases
BusinessEurope and CBI statements following meeting of European business groups with the UK Prime Minister
Photo copyright: Gov.uk
The CBI and business groups from across Europe, representing millions of employees, met with UK Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday (13 November).
They discussed the importa...
Climate change
EU ETS reform deal: Strong on ambition, less so on protection
Today EU negotiators reached a provisional agreement on the reform of the European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).
BusinessEurope acknowledges that the negotiators have made some steps in the righ...
Economy and finance
EU’s economic recovery picks up momentum
Today, BusinessEurope published its Autumn Economic Outlook 2017. It’s showing the EU's economic recovery is picking up momentum.
European business federations expect a continuation of the...
Climate change
Climate conference COP23: We need progress and transparency
European business expects substantial progress to be made at the climate conference starting on Monday in Bonn (COP23). Under the Fijian Presidency, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate...
Industrial relations and EU labour law
BusinessEurope offers to negotiate with ETUC on written statement directive
In its second-stage consultation of the social partners issued on 21 September 2017, the European Commission asked the European social partners whether they are willing to enter into negotiations with...
Posting of workers: a bad compromise driven by political symbolism
Yesterday, the EPSCO Council reached a general approach on a revision of the posting directive. We are deeply concerned about key aspects of the deal. The compromise reached foresees to reduce the dur...
Data protection
Divided e-Privacy vote demonstrates lack of Parliament debate
Today, the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) Committee in the European Parliament narrowly voted its e-Privacy report through. This demonstrated its fragmented position before Council n...
Education, training and skills
EU employers: For better apprenticeships, better policy needed
Today the European Commission has published its proposal for a Council Recommendation on an EU Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships. BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyre...
Economy and finance
EU Commission VAT proposals can lead to less complexity, less fragmentation, less tax fraud and evasion
Following the release of the European Commission proposals on the definitive VAT system for cross-border trade within the EU single market, BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer made the fo...
EU Commission’s package will improve implementation of public procurement
On Tuesday 3 October, the European Commission presented a non-legislative Public Procurement Package. BusinessEurope supports the Commission’s continued efforts to ensure that the public procurement...
Trade
New EU Anti-Dumping Methodology – level of protection maintained
Following the agreement of the negotiators of the European Parliament and the Council today in Strasbourg, Markus J. Beyrer, Director General of BusinessEurope said: “Fair trade is the nece...
Digital economy
A message to Tallinn: unleash Europe’s data economy
Industry calls for an end to data localisation
Today, BusinessEurope and Noerr LLP released a study on legal issues of digitalisation in Europe. As Europe’s leaders meet at the Digital Summit in Ta...
Digital economy
Tax systems must support the take-up of digital technologies in Europe
Following the release of the European Commission Communication on a fair and efficient tax system in the European Union for the Digital Single Market, BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Be...
Bilateral relations
Canada-EU business leaders: CETA implementation beneficial for all
Businesses across Canada and the European Union are welcoming today’s provisional implementation of the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
A progressive free trade agr...
Bilateral relations
Brexit – business is concerned about the slow pace in negotiations
Business needs certainty and time to prepare and adjust to the post-Brexit situation. The slow pace of the negotiations is of special concern to business as it might jeopardise an orderly and construc...
EU single market
Plenary vote on European Accessibility Act: several steps in the right direction
Today, the European Parliament voted in its plenary session on the European Accessibility Act, a European Commission proposal which intends to improve access of persons with disabilities to a range of...
Bilateral relations
Sailing the wind of economic improvements to further strengthen Europe
Reacting to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s speech on the State of the Union earlier today at the European Parliament, BusinessEurope President Emma Marcegaglia said: “...
An ambitious scenario for the future of Europe
Ahead of European Commission President Juncker’s speech on the State of the Union on 13 September 2017 and reacting to the five scenarios of the Commission White Paper on the Future of Europe, Busin...
Trade
New US sanctions on Russia would mainly hit the EU
European business is extremely concerned by the imminent extension of the US sanctions to Russia and the potential impact on the EU's energy supply.
Markus J. Beyrer, Director General of Bu...
European Council
Polish judicial reform – independent judiciary crucial for democracy and the economy
BusinessEurope closely follows the developments of the draft Supreme Court Bill on the judicial reform in Poland. Apart from questions on the process, where we share the Polish social partners’...
Bilateral relations
Brexit – business needs an orderly transition
The decision of the UK to leave the EU opens up factors of uncertainty. It is therefore essential to organise the exit of the UK from the EU in an orderly and constructive manner to allow business to...
Climate change
ETS study: Emission trading reform possible without risking carbon leakage
An ambitious reform of the EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS) is possible without taking the risk of industries disinvesting from the EU.
Today BusinessEurope presented a study by FTI Consulting s...
B20 and B7
G20 must play a leading role on climate and trade
Tomorrow G20 leaders will meet in Hamburg where the discussions will focus on climate and trade. These are two critical areas for the European business community and G20 needs to show strong commitmen...
Bilateral relations
EU and Japan taking the lead on trade liberalisation
BusinessEurope welcomes the announcement of a political agreement in the EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.
Markus J. Beyrer, Director General of BusinessEurope, said:
“After ha...