Publications
Governance
Industrial policy should be high up on the agenda
Markus J. Beyrer at the Informal Competitiveness Council in Sofia
The informal meeting of the EU ministers responsible for competitiveness takes place today in Sofia under the Bulgarian Presidency...
Energy
EU energy efficiency proposal needs a more realistic target and more flexibility
Today, the European Parliament voted on the energy efficiency proposal, one of the key building blocks of the Clean Energy Package. The Parliament adopted the EU’s energy efficiency binding targ...
Education, training and skills
Better education and skills for a more competitive Europe
Today, education was brought back to the political agenda with the European Commission’s education package (EC press release). It includes the revision of the EU Key Competences Framework, the D...
Circular economy
EU Plastics Strategy – ambitious targets with a balanced approach
Today, the European Commission took an important step forward in the Circular Economy Action Plan with a publication of the Plastics Strategy. The Strategy settles an ambitious target – by 2030,...
Labour markets and social policy
Accounting harmonisation
Economy and finance
EU Multiannual Financial Framework post-2020: ensure unity and swift agreement
Ahead of today’s conference of the European Commission on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) post-2020, followed by an important debate at the college of Commissioners, BusinessEurope publish...
Economy and finance
Views on the EU multi-annual financial framework (MFF) post-2020
Following a difficult decade for the European Union, the recovery is finally anchored, entering its fifth year in 2017 with positive numbers both in terms of growth and employment creation. We also...
EU social dialogue
Second-phase consultation of social partners under Article 154 TFEU on a possible action addressing the challenges of access to social protection for people in all forms of employment in the framework of the European pillar of social rights
Key messages
Increasing diversity in forms of employment is a positive development in the world of work, providing flexibility and opportunities for companies, workers and people. Social protection...
Definitive VAT system for cross-border trade – a BusinessEurope position paper
Key messages
We welcome the European Commission’s commitment to the creation of a single VAT-area based on maximum simplicity, clarity and robustness against fraud. We support in particular t...
Industrial relations and EU labour law
Written statement directive: yes to modernisation, no to new burdens on companies
BusinessEurope understands the need to modernise the written statement directive (1991/533/EEC) and was prepared to negotiate this revision. However, we always insisted on the need to respect the natu...
EU single market
Goods Package – timely proposals to improve the free movement of goods
Today the European Commission presented a ‘Goods Package’ with proposals to improve the free movement of goods in the Single Market. The package consists of proposals for new regulations in the ar...
Digital economy
Digital economy
Council should not exempt the free flow of data
The European Commission’s free flow of data proposal aimed to end digital single market fragmentation through restricting national measures that force data to be geographically located when proc...
Digital economy
Bilateral relations
Business welcomes European Council decision on Brexit – companies need certainty
Today, the European Council confirmed that sufficient progress has been made pertaining to phase one of the Brexit negotiations. This will allow to start negotiations on the transition and the framewo...