You are here

Share this
Mail this page
Print
Back to top
Newsletters

BusinessEurope Headlines No. 2021-25

Perspectives on the Green Deal

“The overall direction set by the EU Green Deal, and more recently the Fit for 55 package, is right, but the devil is in the details to determine the right balance between climate ambition, cost-effectiveness and fair competition”, stated Alexandre Affre, BusinessEurope Deputy Director General, at the event “European Green Deal – perspectives of the European Commission and the private sector”, organised by the Turkish industry organisation TÜSIAD on 7 September 2021. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) proposal, he added, “is a very disruptive one. It calls for a close dialogue with our trading partners on the modalities of implementation”. The panellists also discussed the potential impact of the Green Deal on the relations with economic partners. Affre commented that on the positive side, it will create opportunities for investments, new business models, innovations and low-carbon technologies. On the challenging side, Turkish producers selling in the EU market will have to comply with many of the rules that EU companies will be facing. “Therefore, the closer regulatory alignment, the better in order to minimise increasing costs and barriers for exports to the EU market”, Affre concluded.

Contact: Alexandre Affre

National recovery plans must lead to growth-enhancing reforms

EU Member States' implementation of their National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRPs) must lead to growth and employment enhancing structural reforms. This was the key message of BusinessEurope's Economics Director, James Watson at a European Economic and Social Committee hearing, “Towards the European Semester 2022 – Implementing the National Recovery and Resilience Plans”. At the event, held in hybrid format on 6 September, James also referred to BusinessEurope's 2021 Reform Barometer, which shows that 47% of BusinessEurope's member federations believe that their countries NRRPs lack ambition or commitment regarding reform. As the implementation of the plans continues, it will be important for Member States to work closely with social partners to ensure the increase in effectiveness of investment and reforms.

Contact: James Watson

EU connectivity strategy: business priorities

BusinessEurope sent a letter to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen ahead of her speech on the State of the Union on 15 September. The letter sets out our priorities for an effective EU connectivity strategy. It argues that several actions should be taken for the EU strategy to be a success. These actions include: prioritising what is most essential and communicating well on the strategy; involving business with the creation of the business advisory group; setting up a dedicated budget; ensuring sustainability of investments, reciprocity and adherence to global standards; and ensuring coordination with Member States as well as with other international initiatives. The letter also emphasises the need to maintain the current political momentum created with the G7 pledge to develop a new partnership for the build back better plan as well as the Council conclusions on a globally connected Europe from 12 July.

Contact: Elena Suárez

Call for strong intra-EU investment protection and facilitation

As the European Commission is expected to publish its proposal on an intra-EU investment protection and facilitation initiative, BusinessEurope addressed a letter to the European Commissioner for financial services, financial stability and Capital Markets Union, Mairead McGuinness, reiterating our key concerns and priorities. The termination of the so-called intra-EU Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) will leave a void in the protection of intra-EU investors. To address this, we support an ambitious approach that will, on the one hand, codify the rights of intra-EU investors that are currently scattered in different sources of EU law and, on the other hand, ensure the effective implementation of these rights throughout the EU. A unified framework will guarantee equal treatment of investors within the EU Single Market. Furthermore, it shall address cases where intra-EU investors are faced with well documented problems of rule of law. A legally binding solution should therefore be, therefore, put forward by the European Commission. BusinessEurope will remain active in this debate.

Contact: Sofia Bournou

Calendar 

Not yet a subscriber? Register here.

Reminder: please have a look at our privacy policy

Last updated: 10 September 2021