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BusinessEurope Headlines No. 2016-21

Mission to Washington, DC

BusinessEurope President Emma Marcegaglia, Director General Markus J. Beyrer and US Network Chair Pat Ivory were in the United States this week to express European business support for an ambitious and comprehensive Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. We still have the possibility to conclude a political agreement during the current US Administration, but we need to move forward – especially on the most difficult issues. Negotiators cannot leave everything for the end-game and by July we should see meaningful progress on services, public procurement, regulatory cooperation at horizontal and sectoral levels, or geographical indications. These are important areas to ensure the agreement has a wide support in the EU. But we should also address the issues that are important for the USA be it in agriculture or in services. With the current level of public debate around trade in the EU and the USA, TTIP must be an agreement that both sides see as beneficial, meeting the legitimate expectations of the wider public.

Contact: Luisa Santos

Time for bold actions, no time for divisions

In his closing remarks at the European Business Summit on 2 June, BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer stressed that a strong economy is an indispensable basis to weather the multiple challenges facing us. In the presence of European Commission President Juncker he said: "Now is not the time for division but rather for bold actions to deliver peace, security and prosperity for all. To strengthen growth and create new jobs in Europe we need to focus on opening new markets and implement policies that remove unnecessary obstacles to international trade and those still remaining in our single market." He also underlined the importance of investment in digitalisation and of delivering the digital single market. Mr Beyrer recalled the crucial role the UK has played in shaping the development of the EU, adding: "a strong UK in a strong EU is of mutual benefit for all our economies. BusinessEurope hopes the UK stays part of a reformed EU." BusinessEurope was also represented on various panel discussions at the European Business Summit, by the chairs of its Digital Economy task force, Kurt Scheel, and of its Economic and Financial Affairs working group, Agnès Lepinay, as well as by four directors: Alexandre Affre, Maxime Cerutti, Luisa Santos and James Watson.

Watch more or contact: Thérèse de Liedekerke

European Commission conference on smart regions

Smart specialisation strategies must not be another burdensome procedure in the use of EU structural and investment funds but rather a dynamic process that leads to an actual economic transformation in regions. This was the key message conveyed by Joana Valente, senior adviser and strategy coordinator at BusinessEurope, during an event organised by the European Commission on 2 June. Joana Valente also stressed the need to keep business involved for a successful process of entrepreneurial discovery; to ensure these strategies are innovative also in the way they are financed; and to keep a close eye on regulation that might be hindering implementation of these strategies at various levels.

Contact: Joana Valente

Revive securitisation markets to improve access to finance

Restoring confidence in securitisation will play an important role in allowing banks to free up their balance sheets and extend lending, BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer wrote to members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs prior to the 13 June public hearing on securitisation. The creation of a European framework for simple, transparent and standardised securitisation is not just of interest to the financial sector. The EU needs to revive securitisation markets as this would be an important contribution to strengthening financing, which remains a concern.

Read more or contact: Erik Berggren

Views on modernisation of the EU-Turkey Customs Union agreement

BusinessEurope is in principle in favour of upgrading the EU-Turkey Customs Union agreement, as it will help deepen bilateral relations with Turkey and make them more comprehensive. This is the key message that we stress in our submission to the relevant public consultation organised by the European Commission. A modernised Customs Union should be able to address tariff and non-tariff barriers, cover services, public procurement, intellectual property rights and include an effective dispute settlement mechanism. These are essential components that will allow the EU and Turkey to realise the full potential of their trade and economic relations. BusinessEurope will remain engaged in this process.

Read more or contact: Sofia Bournou

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Last updated: 29 July 2016