At today’s Tripartite Social Summit, BusinessEurope will present its latest Reform Barometer to EU leaders. This report analyses Europe’s global competitiveness performance on the basis of key indicators such as public finances, business environment and the labour market.
BusinessEurope President Fredrik Persson said:
“Our latest Reform Barometer reveals serious concerns among the European business community about the EU’s investment climate. A striking 82% of respondents believe that the EU attractiveness for investment has either deteriorated or remained unchanged over the past 12 months. The biggest challenge that they identify is overregulation, followed by high energy prices and labour shortages.
Furthermore, an overwhelming 85% of our national member federations believe that the new U.S. Administration’s deregulation agenda will further divert investment away from Europe. The EU must act with greater urgency to reduce regulatory burden on companies and strengthen its appeal as an investment location.
Businesses across Member States have high expectations for the European Commission’s overall shift in policy direction regarding competitiveness and growth, and that first positive steps must be built upon and followed by swift and concrete actions to deliver real change. Time is of the essence, and companies operating in Europe urgently need to see tangible improvements in their business environment.”
BusinessEurope stressed this message in its letter ahead of the European Council Meeting, which can be read here.
The Reform Barometer 2025 also compares the EU and U.S. economies, outlines the tight economic links that bind them, and describes recent U.S. policy actions that could impact the EU. This section includes a regional and industry-specific look at EU competitiveness, enabling a more granular evaluation.
To read the full BusinessEurope Reform Barometer, click here.
