BusinessEurope Headlines No. 2016-31

EFNI 2016: strong EU foundations and a resilient economy are key for the future of work

“Future growth and future jobs very much depend on what will happen in the European Union. In our dream for Europe, the European Union introduces necessary reforms and restores European unity. We focus on areas where the European Union can really add value such as external borders management, the Single Market, the strengthening of the Eurozone and an ambitious international trade policy. And member states live up to their responsibility. They stop blaming the European Union for their own shortcomings. Concrete actions are taken to fully implement the European investment plan, eliminate obstacles to productive investment, innovate, digitalise, improve access to finance, conclude new generation trade agreements”. These were the key messages conveyed by BusinessEurope President Marcegaglia to European Commission First Vice-President FransTimmermans during the Opening Gala of the European Forum for New Ideas - EFNI 2016, organised by the Polish Confederation Lewiatan and its President Henryka Bochniarz.

Contact: Thérèse de Liedekerke

We need free flow of data in EU trade agreements

"Promoting free flow of data in EU trade agreements will benefit all economic sectors,” was the key message of BusinessEurope, DigitalEurope and the European Services Forum (ESF) in a joint letter addressed to Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, 27 September. Digital trade is particularly important for the EU. Therefore, we need a framework that enables free flow of data both within the EU as well as with our trading partners. Negotiations of the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) should not be seen as re-negotiating our data privacy rules, but rather as ensuring that the EU benefits from digital trade, without lowering our standards.

Contact: Guido Lobrano or Sofia Bournou

Improving SME access to finance: the European Fund for Strategic Investment

The European Investment Fund’s (EIF) task is to deploy the European Fund for Strategic Investment’s (EFSI) financial schemes directed at Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). On 27 September, the Head of the Growth and Educational Programmes Department of EIF David González Martín presented the new generation of SME-geared EFSI financial products that will be launched in the next months, especially in the area of equity, to BusinessEurope’s SME Committee chaired by Marta Marti. He outlined current thinking to establish a Pan-European Venture Capital Fund of Funds. The discussion covered important conditions that are needed to optimise the deployment of the SME window of EFSI under the current EU regulation, and under an extended EFSI running up to 2020.

Contact: Daniel Cloquet

There is a breeze of fresh air in Geneva

Digital trade is a driver for growth, innovation and connectivity. At the same time it can help make trade more inclusive. It is one of the areas where the WTO could deliver new international principles. These were the key messages at a high-level working session on digital trade organised by BusinessEurope's during the WTO Public Forum in Geneva. Furthermore, BusinessEurope met with representatives of the WTO and its members to discuss future steps ahead of next year's Ministerial Conference. This year, more than 2000 participants joined the WTO Public Forum to talk about ways to revive trade negotiations and improve the international rule book on trade.

Contact: Sofia Bournou

Euro-Mediterranean Social Partners’ joint declaration on social dialogue

Social dialogue in the EU and the Southern Mediterranean region can play a vital role in strengthening economy growth and competitiveness, decent work and social cohesion, to reduce poverty and inequalities and to ensure a peaceful transition to democracy. This is one of the key points of the first joint declaration on social dialogue by the Euro-Mediterranean trade unions and employers. An important step in addressing employment and labour market challenges in the Euro-Mediterranean region. The joint declaration was published in the framework of the 3^rd Union for the Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Employment and Labour held on the 26 September in Jordan. Key leaders such as European Commissioner Marianne Thyssen and Jordan’s Minister of Labour were taking part.

Contact: Guillaume Cravero

We need global solutions for climate protection in aviation

The European air transport industry can only be competitive with an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) led solution that includes global market-based measures to lower CO2 emissions from aviation. This is why BusinessEurope has high expectations of the 39th ICAO Assembly in Montreal that started on 27 September and will last until 7 October. 192 countries will aim to find global solutions. This message was clearly transmitted in a roundtable debate of BusinessEurope’s Transport Working Group with International Air Transport Association (IATA) representatives that will be at the negotiation table. The aim should be to move towards a global level-playing field, which is ambitious and truly commits countries when they sign up. BusinessEurope already welcomed the agreement on the first ever-global standard to cap CO2 emissions from aircraft that will be formally adopted in the ICAO Council in early 2017. This agreement will guide the certification of aircraft towards greater fuel-efficiency and CO2 reductions.