BusinessEurope discusses the future of Europe with the Maltese Prime Minister

“We need more investment in Europe to fight unemployment, the first cause of inequalities, and the single market is essential to attract investors. We need more European unity, more openness to trade, and we need to streamline industrial competitiveness in all European policies. EU leaders must work together to defend the collective interest of all Europeans” BusinessEurope President Emma Marcegaglia said during a meeting with the Maltese Prime Minister, Dr Joseph Muscat. On 30 January, just a few days before the informal meeting of EU heads of state or governments on the future of Europe in Valletta, she and Director General Markus J. Beyrer, together with the Malta Chamber of Commerce - MCCEI’s President Anton Borg and DG Kevin J. Borg, met Mr Muscat. The meeting focused on BusinessEurope’s contribution to the debate on the future of Europe as well as on the priorities for the Maltese presidency.

There are many risks that could derail the cautiously optimistic IMF forecast for 2017: rising protectionism, insufficient growth and low employment in a number of economies, geopolitical tensions, a more severe slowdown in China and, in Europe, uncertainty linked to Brexit. For BusinessEurope the European Union has to act more quickly and EU leaders have to show that the EU is delivering concrete measures that reduce uncertainty.