Discussion with MEPs: How trade policy can best support European competitiveness
The EU is the top trading partner for 80 countries. Trade policy has been instrumental in supporting the EU’s competitiveness and presence in the world for decades – highlighted our Director General Markus J. Beyrer in his opening remarks at the event “Open Strategic Autonomy: How Trade Policy can best support European competitiveness”, jointly organised with our Irish member Ibec at the European Parliament.
It was hosted by MEP Barry Andrews and also had the participation of MEP Kathleen Van Brempt and Ibec’s Director of EU and International Affairs Pat Ivory.
“With fierce global competition, with faster growth rates and more consumers, we need to step up efforts to make our value proposition to trading partners attractive, meaningful and reliable”, Beyrer said.
Through trade policy the EU can increase its resilience by diversifying imports and creating new market opportunities abroad, he added. It can promote binding sustainable standards and level the playing field for European companies, improve security and reduce geopolitical risks. But to achieve this, the EU must stay open, it must accelerate the entering into force of free trade agreements it has negotiated. And last but not least, any interventions with a direct impact on companies must be assessed against the impact on the competitiveness of the European economy.
Read more in our paper “Open Strategic Autonomy: How Trade Policy can best support European competitiveness”.
