Press releases
New EU rules on data protection: a missed opportunity
Agreement fails to stimulate competitiveness
Reacting to the announcement of the political agreement between the EU Council and Parliament on data protection, Markus J. Beyrer, Director General of...
China to get “market economy status”?
China as a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) seeks to obtain a new status as a “market economy” in 2016. This “market economy status” (MES) would have a substantial impact on EU’s...
Climate summit COP21 deal: an important step forward, but not (yet) the full answer
Difficult compromises have finally been reached after four years of negotiations since the Durban COP meeting. Today’s outcome is an important step forward for global efforts to reduce emissions and...
Crisis-hit EU needs stronger economic base to handle challenges
“Europe has to deal with terrorism, international conflicts, the slowing down of world growth, high unemployment and the migration crisis. A strengthened economic base is an indispensable prerequisi...
EU needs contract law fit for the 21st century
To adjust to the new digital reality Europe needs full harmonisation of existing national rules concerning online sales.
Reacting to today’s European Commission proposals, BUSINESSEUROPE Director G...
Emma Marcegaglia at COP21: Ministers’ last chance to reach meaningful agreement
EU industry still doesn't have level playing field with other major greenhouse gas emitters
Today at the global climate summit COP21 in Paris Emma Marcegaglia, President of BUSINESSEUROPE warned nego...
Challenged EU aviation sector needs efficient Single Sky
The European Commission’s aviation strategy presented today comes timely and is supported by European business because European aviation is facing severe challenges:
high costs;
looming capa...
EU circular economy: full-circle thinking is a good step
Full-cycle thinking, closer business and governmental cooperation and a long-term transitional perspective for the circular economy to be fully implemented are positive elements of the new package the...
EU Commission’s prospectus directive review can help companies to raise capital
Following the release of the European Commission’s proposals to review the prospectus directive, BUSINESSEUROPE Director General Markus J. Beyrer commented: “We appreciate the fa...
2016 Annual Growth Survey provides right focus for a renewed reform effort
Following the publication of the European Commission’s package to launch the European Semester, including the 2016 Annual Growth Survey, BUSINESSEUROPE Director General Markus J. Beyrer made the fol...
EU needs stronger policy for small and medium-sized enterprises
Ahead of the European SME Assembly in Luxembourg on 19-20 November 2015 BUSINESSEUROPE and UEAPME published a video message and a joint statement today calling for a renewed and strengthened EU policy...
EU Member States should bring single market barriers down
EU single market strategy to help Europe stay competitive
The EU single market strategy presented today by the European Commission in Brussels is a step in the right direction. It can help make the E...
New EU trade and investment strategy – an ambitious vision
The new trade and investment strategy of the EU published today by the European Commission is a positive step to ensure Europe remains at the centre stage of world trade and investment.
The emphasis...
“We must safeguard the EU economic recovery”, Marcegaglia – BusinessEurope presents Economic Outlook at EU Tripartite Social Summit
At the EU Tripartite Social Summit today BUSINESSEUROPE presented its Autumn Economic Outlook 2015 and its message to the European Council. The Economic Outlook points to a continuation of the EU econ...
EU Ministers put planned railway legislation on right track
Europe’s need for a better connected and more efficient railway system has led the EU Transport Ministers today in Luxembourg to agree on the “market pillar” of the currently negotiated 4th EU r...
TPP conclusion: positive for EU negotiations with Japan and the USA
BUSINESSEUROPE welcomes the announcement in Atlanta of the conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. The agreement includes 12 Pacific Rim nations from Canada and Chile to Japan and...
EU and USA must urgently provide revised “Safe Harbour”
“A disruption of cross-border data flow could seriously affect Europe’s transatlantic trade with the USA.”
Reacting to today’s ruling of the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg on the Saf...
Capital Markets Union: proposals will contribute to investment-led growth
Following the release of the European Commission’s action plan today on building a Capital Market Union, BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer said: “We should urgently imple...
EU should be stronger on comparable climate efforts
Major carbon emitters to achieve global level playing field at COP21
Today's conclusions of the EU Environment Ministers meeting on the global climate negotiations and the climate summit in Paris...
TTIP should include fair investor-state dispute settlement
First reaction on EU Commission's ISDS proposal
The European Commission today released its proposal on investment protection and an investment court system in TTIP.
This is an important step to...
BusinessEurope reacts to State of the Union speech
On the occasion of today’s ‘State of the Union’ speech by European Commission President Juncker, BusinessEurope President Emma Marcegaglia said:
On migration
“This was...
Clarifying statement by the President and Director General of BusinessEurope
BusinessEurope has recently been named and shamed as an organisation trying to undermine climate change policies. A group of Corporate and Social Responsibility driven investors is claiming that we ar...