Time to unlock a security-driven competitiveness

In recent years, our businesses have operated in a less stable, less predictable and less safe global environment. Yet, at the same time, global economic integration has never been deeper. This paradox is particularly evident in the complex interplay between the EU, US, and China.

The EU finds itself navigating between its long-standing ally, the US, which under Trump has adopted a drastic protectionist stance, challenging traditional alliances and global trade norms. At the same time China has been expanding its global economic influence through initiatives like the Belt and Road. The EU, meanwhile, seeks to maintain open trade relations while also protecting its strategic interests and fundamental values. This has led to a delicate balancing act, with the EU working to reform the WTO, negotiate bilateral trade agreements, and develop tools to fight unfair trade practices and foreign subsidies.

In this context, economic flows and security have become increasingly intertwined. This is why the EU is eying a number of measures to protect its markets and economies and recently launched the Competitiveness Compass, based on three business imperatives—innovation, decarbonisation and security.

For the EESC Employers’ Group, comprehensive security encompasses several dimensions: defence capacity, civil and societal preparedness, external border security, health and environmental security. But also safeguarding food security and the role of producers. Furthermore, economic security is a crucial aspect of overall security, addressing risks related to trade and investment, energy, raw materials and infrastructure, technology -- from AI to space, clean tech to biotech -and intellectual property rights, as well as business freedom.

Since the beginning of the year, the Commission has proposed a number of initiatives, not least a simplification of the regulatory framework to free people and businesses from unnecessary burdens and overly complex rules to unleash opportunities, innovation and growth for a secure, prosperous EU.

The goal of the Extraordinary Employers’ Group meeting in Warsaw (Poland), co-organised with Polish employers’ organisations (BCC, Lewiatan, Pracodawcy RP, ZRP, ZPP) and the Polish Ministry of Development and Technologies, will discuss some of these foreseen initiatives and measures. The event will seek to align the vision with tangible actions, with the aim to improve competitiveness and resilience, strengthening the EU open strategic autonomy.