BUSINESSEUROPE

The biggest organisation representing European companies of all sizes & all sectors. Insights on EU policy, economy, competitiveness & trade from Brussels HQ

[BUSINESSEUROPE @BusinessEurope]

High energy costs remain a challenge for European businesses.

In our exchange with Céline Gauer, DG of @Energy4Europe, we discussed the energy market situation and called for a simple, technology-neutral post-2030 energy framework to enable governments and businesses to decarbonise at the lowest possible cost.

[BUSINESSEUROPE @BusinessEurope]

Changing labour markets call for social partner cooperation across the Mediterranean.

At the 6th Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Social Dialogue Forum, which concluded yesterday in Toledo, discussions focused on how to develop skills for evolving labour market needs and strengthen the role of social dialogue.

This contributed to mutual understanding and improved cooperation between social partners on both shores of the mediterranean.

[BUSINESSEUROPE @BusinessEurope]

Timely exchange with Ditte Juul Jørgensen, DG of DG TRADE, on main issues for European industry, including ongoing negotiations with China, transatlantic relations and the role of trade agreements in the EU’s diversification strategy.

Our key message: Europe must build resilience through diversification, assert its economic interests, and remain open to dialogue and balanced, mutually beneficial partnerships.

[BUSINESSEUROPE @BusinessEurope]

With the @EUCommission's publication of the EU #standardisation proposal it is essential that we strengthen not dilute our market-driven system.

While we welcome efforts to speed up the process, it is crucial this reform maintains industry expertise.

Industry-led standards are key to EU competitiveness.

[Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship & SMEs @EU_Growth]

We are proposing a new Standardisation Regulation to make European standards faster and easier to access.

It aims to cut average development time from 6 to 4 years and deliver around €300m a year in compliance-cost savings for businesses.

More: https://t.co/YRg49Hucsa

[BUSINESSEUROPE @BusinessEurope]

How can we achieve our climate objectives while providing long-term investment certainty?

The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) has a central role to play. In our reaction to the European Commission’s review proposal, we welcome the new flexibilities. But companies need a predictable emissions trajectory and the conditions to make investments viable.

The reform should:
🔹 Maintain effective protection against carbon leakage, without conditions on free allocation.
🔹 Channel ETS revenues into industrial decarbonisation, with simpler access to funding.
🔹 Integrate carbon removals and international carbon credits with a focus on predictability, investment certainty, and technological neutrality.

Read our paper: https://t.co/MlitblW67X

[BUSINESSEUROPE @BusinessEurope]

The 6th Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Social Dialogue Forum in Toledo has just started!

Energy costs, labour shortages, skills and the green and digital transitions are on the agenda – shared challenges on both shores of the Mediterranean.

Our Social Affairs Director Maxime Cerutti will contribute with European employers’ perspectives.

Stay tuned for the outcomes!

[Reinhold Lopatka @ReinholdLopatka]

During our meeting with EU Ambassador Gregor Schusterschitz, @iv_industrie SG Christoph Neumayer and @BusinessEurope DG Markus Beyrer, the focus was on strengthening Europe’s competitiveness through a stronger Single Market, less red tape and new trade agreements.

[BUSINESSEUROPE @BusinessEurope]

Commission’s work programme 2027:

In a meeting between Executive Vice-President @RoxanaMinzatu and the other European cross-sectoral social partners, BusinessEurope Director General Markus Beyrer underlined the importance of continuing to reduce regulatory burden as companies do not actually feel the results on the ground.

The quality jobs act announced for publication by the Commission by end of 2026 should contribute to the effort by proposing a genuine simplification in EU social legislation.

[Andrius Kubilius @KubiliusA]

By EU treaties, defence is a national prerogative. We have 27 armies, 27 defence policies, 27 defence budgets.

We also have major “non-achievements”, which we need to overcome in the nearest future to achieve readiness.

My take at the @BusinessEurope event. Long thread ⬇️ 1/15

[BUSINESSEUROPE @BusinessEurope]

EU Inc. will not turn the system upside down - it adds a simpler way forward for companies with a European ambition.

We call on the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament to deliver on their promise of a simple, predictable and attractive instrument.

[BUSINESSEUROPE @BusinessEurope]

Ahead of today’s EU #COMPET Council, we urge Member States to deliver a bold EU Inc. that helps companies scale up, attract investment, innovate and compete globally.

EU Inc needs ambition not dilution. Member States should make the initiative work rather than dilute the original Commission proposal, which broadly provides a balanced and practical basis for achieving these objectives.

EU Inc. should be seen as an opportunity, not a threat. Existing EU and national legislation already provide robust safeguards for stakeholders, including rules on employee participation. This will not change under EU Inc.

Read our letter: https://t.co/pIxDFy64jV

[BUSINESSEUROPE @BusinessEurope]

Our President Maciej Witucki had a fruitful discussion with EVP Stéphane Séjourné on how to improve Europe’s competitiveness and simplify regulation, including key files such as the Industrial Accelerator Act and ETS.

It is positive that the European Commission is continuing to make efforts to strengthen the economy.

The strong political commitment should now lead to concrete results for companies on the ground.

[BUSINESSEUROPE @BusinessEurope]

Security and competitiveness are no longer separate agendas.

As our Vice President Klaus Holse stressed at today’s event, “security risks today are strategic in nature: they affect our prosperity, our competitiveness and our way of life directly, not just our armed forces. Security and defence must therefore be treated as an integral part of Europe’s long-term competitiveness and growth strategy.”

Read our paper: https://t.co/hcRf1yO5fn

[BUSINESSEUROPE @BusinessEurope]

What does Europe need to become more secure, resilient and competitive?

A full room at our high-level event with Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, @ChairmanEUMC Sean Clancy, policymakers and business leaders, exploring how to scale up Europe’s defence industry and deepen cooperation with trusted partners.

[BUSINESSEUROPE @BusinessEurope]

European business remains strongly committed to supporting Ukraine in the path towards EU integration, and to working with Ukrainian businesses 🤝 to build partnerships and new business opportunities

- the message of our President @mwitucki to the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic integration @VVChentsov

[Valdis Dombrovskis @VDombrovskis]

🤝 Valuable first meeting with Maciej Witucki, the new President of @BusinessEurope.

We engaged on the priorities of Europe’s business community and I outlined the @EU_Commission’s work to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness.

🎯 We must move faster to simplify Europe and unlock investment.

[BUSINESSEUROPE @BusinessEurope]

The One Europe, One Market roadmap points in the right direction, but progress remains limited. Single Market integration has stalled, with intra-EU trade in goods falling to 22% of GDP and services trade stagnating at 7.9%.

Together with five other European business associations, we call for Single Market barriers to be removed, regulatory burdens to be reduced and political commitments to be turned into concrete action.

A competitive Europe requires a truly integrated Single Market that delivers on the free movement of goods, services, capital and people, and enables businesses to invest, innovate and trade across borders.

Read our joint statement: https://t.co/dTVcCAW5mC

[BUSINESSEUROPE @BusinessEurope]

Europe needs more investment to grow and compete.

Together with a BusinessEurope delegation, our President Maciej Witucki and DG Markus J. Beyrer met Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque yesterday to discuss how the Savings and Investments Union can improve access to finance and support investments and innovation.

[BUSINESSEUROPE @BusinessEurope]

Do Europe’s ambitions go far enough to remove the barriers holding the Single Market back?

Join BusinessEurope and @ibec_irl to discuss what is needed to make “One Europe, One Market” a reality.

Bringing together the Irish EU Presidency, EU policymakers and business leaders, including:

🔹 Bertrand L’Huillier, Head of Cabinet to EVP Séjourné
🔹 Peter Burke, Irish Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and Chair of the EU Competitiveness Council
🔹 Markus Beyrer, BusinessEurope Director General
🔹 Ulrike Sapiro, Managing Director of the Jacques Delors Friends of Europe Foundation
🔹 Danny McCoy, CEO of Ibec

Programme and registration: https://t.co/vPrQLVi4uH