Further to the declaration adopted by its Council of Presidents on 26 November 2021, BusinessEurope developed more detailed priorities for the French Presidency in key policy areas:
- Fight against COVID: Unfortunately, the pandemic is not over. Further progress is urgently needed regarding vaccination and coordination of national measures to minimize disruptions to mobility in the European Union.
- Economic policy: Whilst the immediate concern is to avoid premature unwinding of measures to support companies and workers affected by the COVID crisis, getting a lasting recovery, and returning to fiscally sustainable positions in the medium term requires further improvements to EU economic policymaking. In addition, an ambitious industrial policy is the best way to strengthen innovation and global competitiveness of European business.
- Better Regulation: There are growing concerns in the business community about legislative proposals that put European companies at a disadvantage when competing on global markets. Companies cannot cope with a never-ending accumulation of administrative requirement and constrains. They must focus on recovering from the COVID crisis and their green and digital transition.
- Single Market and digitalisation: To strengthen our Single Market and accelerate its digitalisation, the French Presidency must defend the Council general approaches when finalising the adoption of the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act and work for an innovation-friendly Artificial Intelligence Act.
- Fit for 55 package: Climate ambitions and industrial competitiveness can work hand-in-hand if the French Presidency deals with the Fit for 55 package as a whole and prioritizes access to affordable renewable and low-carbon energy and fuels as well as interconnected and flexible energy infrastructures that are necessary for the success of the European economy and the energy transition.
- Employment and social policy: Modernizing Europe’s labour markets and developing workers competences is more important than ever. A balanced approach is needed on platform work, minimum wages and pay transparency. Furthermore, the Council recommendation on individual learning accounts must better reflect the common views expressed in the tripartite opinion of the advisory Committee on Vocational Training, which underlines that there are many good tools to provide training.
- Due diligence, sustainable corporate governance, and reporting: To put in place workable requirements, all ongoing initiatives (from the future rules on corporate governance, due diligence, and sustainability reporting to the taxonomy) should fit together, not overlap, be SME-friendly, and not put companies in the position of having to interpret unclear legislative requirements under unrealistic timelines. This is essential to have legal uncertainty.
- International trade: Trade and international cooperation with reliable partners is key to sustain Europe’s economic recovery and the French Presidency should not shy away from promoting sustainable rules-based trade and opening new trade and investment opportunities for European companies.
- Conference on the Future of Europe: The recommendations resulting from this conference must not fuel unrealistic expectations. They must acknowledge that a vibrant economy is a pre-condition to sustain our European way of life and promote our model internationally.
If we over-burden European companies in their home-market, undermine their competitiveness and shy away from ambitious international trade policies, we will not achieve a lasting recovery and we will weaken Europe’s global position.
The informal European Summit in Paris on 10-11 March 2022 will discuss the European economy after Covid and where Europe should be in 2030. BusinessEurope looks forward to working constructively with the French Presidency on a concrete agenda to strengthen the European Union.
Yours sincerely,
Pierre Gattaz Markus J. Beyrer
President Director General
