Publications
EU Social Package: Anti-poverty strategy, European child guarantee, disability strategy and Council recommendation on housing exclusion – a BusinessEurope position paper
BusinessEurope welcomes the activation-first framing of the social package adopted on 6 May 2026, comprising the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, the Communication on strengthening the European Child Guarant...
CBAM: Implementation of the definitive phase – BusinessEurope fact check
Introduction
The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) entered into application on 1 October 2023 with a transitional phase, before the start of its definitive phase in January 2026. While the de...
Benchmarking competitiveness checks used in selected EU impact assessments from 2025-2026 – a BusinessEurope position paper
Executive summary
In 2023 the European Commission introduced mandatory competitiveness checks in impact assessments accompanying all of its legislative proposals, looking at four dimensions of compet...
Priorities for European startups and scaleups – a BusinessEurope position paper
Key messages
Startups and scaleups are indispensable drivers of Europe’s economic future. However, despite the remarkable transformation of Europe’s deep tech ecosystem over the past decade,...
Skills shortages undermine Europe’s competitiveness, new study confirms
Today, BusinessEurope discussed the findings of a Deloitte study on Access to Skills, commissioned to examine employers’ skills challenges across Europe. The Deloitte study examines employers’ ski...
Facing the skills challenge in Europe – Lessons drawn by BusinessEurope from the Deloitte study
Background and objectives
Securing access to a qualified workforce is essential for Europe’s economic strength, requiring frameworks that foster professional development while meeting companies' re...
Key employment and social challenges in view of the 2027 European Semester: Consultation of EU social partners – Employers’ views
Introduction
As in past years, the consultation meeting before the publication of the Autumn Package and the 2027 European Semester exercise takes place in a very challenging context. Geopolitical un...
EU-China relations: Europe must be firm where necessary and open where possible
Today, BusinessEurope has published a position paper to contribute to an informed and constructive debate on EU-China trade and economic relations. China’s state-driven, export-oriented economic mod...
What is the way forward for EU-China relations – Views from European business
Key messages
The EU’s dual-track approach to China – firm where necessary, open where possible – must be implemented more effectively. China remains a major market and source of innovation...
Proposals for a more effective trade defence toolbox – a BusinessEurope position paper
Context
In view of the increasing number of industry complains and the perception that trade defence processes are slow and measures do not effectively address current market distortions, this paper...
Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) – a BusinessEurope discussion paper
Introduction
BusinessEurope would like to contribute to discussions on how to improve the design of IPCEIs and develop the conditions for a more streamlined assessment. As set out in the Competitiven...
EU budget: Disproportionate cuts on competitiveness funding and new company taxes like CORE will certainly not make Europe a better investment location
BusinessEurope warns that the Irish Presidency’s latest proposal for the EU’s 2028-2034 budget would disproportionately cut funding for competitiveness and research, while the proposed Corporate R...
BusinessEurope reaction to the gender equality strategy 2026-2030
Introduction
This document sets out BusinessEurope’s position on the Commission’s Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030. It builds directly on our March 2025 paper, “Priorities for Strengthening G...
Reaction to the European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) review proposal – a BusinessEurope position paper
Introduction
This paper sets out BusinessEurope’s key messages in response to the Commission’s proposal to review the European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) published on 17 July 2026. Busines...