BusinessEurope Headlines No. 2019-28
EU and USA should be working together, not against each other
The transatlantic relationship is the strongest and most integrated in the world, but trade irritants are eroding trust. “The EU and the USA should be working together, not against each other. We share common challenges and our companies have a long history of cooperation that is key for our two economies”, stated BusinessEurope President Pierre Gattaz. BusinessEurope's mission to Washington DC included meetings with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, the Deputy Trade Representative Jeffrey Gerrish, Congress and business counterparts. Issues like the Airbus-Boeing dispute, our bilateral trade negotiations, China, the reform of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), sanctions and the threat of duties on cars were at the centre of the discussions. “Trade tensions are creating uncertainty and leading to decreasing investment and economic slowdown. We need to ensure that multilateral rules are respected and we have an effective way of settling disputes”, said Gattaz.
Contact: Eleonora Catella
New publication
Intellectual property - Priorities for the next institutional cycle
We propose a comprehensive strategy on intellectual property (IP) with concrete actions to help IP deliver its well-recognised benefits to companies, citizens and society at large. “Innovators, creators and businesses must be able to rely on a solid intellectual property system in the EU”, said BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer. Intellectual property is a fundamental tool to drive innovation, growth, competitiveness and job creation in Europe. See the publication.
Contact: Elena Bertolotto
Priorities for the next European Semester cycle
A strong focus on economic priorities such as productivity, investment, structural reform and sound public finances is the best way to deliver broader societal goals. This was the key message of BusinessEurope’s Economics Director, James Watson, at an event organised by the European Economic and Social Committee entitled “Civil society contribution to the next European Semester cycle”, in Brussels on 12 September. James noted that there needs to be an improvement in reform implementation during the next political cycle, with our annual Reform Barometer showing that whilst the vast majority of country specific reform recommendations are supported by our member federations, only around 20% of the recommendations are being satisfactorily implemented. Ensuring countries move to best practices in labour and product market regulation could increase EU GDP by 6% by 2025 according to the OECD.
Contact: James Watson
Photo copyright: EESC
United for an ambitious Horizon Europe
BusinessEurope, along with other 92 business and research associations representing key stakeholders of the European innovation ecosystem, published on 16 September a joint statement calling for a budget raise of the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme to make Europe the leader of the global innovation race and a model of economic and social prosperity. The declaration urges Member States to raise the budget to Horizon Europe for the 2021-2027 period to at least €120 billion, of which 60% should be allocated to the collaborative pillar “Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness”. See the statement.
Contact: Carolina Vigo
SMEs need easier access to the Single Market
“Companies still face many obstacles when providing their services across borders and experience that a true Single Market for services is not a reality yet”, said Anna-Lena Bohm, Chair of BusinessEurope “Entrepreneurship and SME” Committee during the SME Envoy Network meeting in Brussels on 13 September. Together with other business organisations, she exchanged views with the Commission Director General Timo Pesonen, responsible for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs. During the debate, which follows European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen commitment to present a dedicated SMEs strategy, Anna-Lena stressed that” a crucial priority must be to make it easier for SMEs to trade in the Single Market”.
Contact: Daniele Olivieri
Calendar
- 20 September: Transport Council
- 23 September: HELweCan! – Boosting skills & continuous learning
- 24 September: Energy Council
- 24-26 September: European Research & Innovation Days
- 25-27 September: European Forum for New Ideas, Sopot
- 2 October: BusinessEurope event "Reaching climate neutrality: Framework conditions and actions on how to get there"
Reminder: please have a look at our privacy policy