EESC Employers' Group launches new Priorities to "Unlock Competitiveness"

27 January 2025 – The Employers' Group of the European Economic and Social Committee launched today the Group's policy priorities for 2025 and beyond. In a paper titled "Unlocking Competitiveness for Shared Prosperity", the Group outlines a number of actions needed to restore EU competitiveness and to create the much-needed EU business-friendly environment.

"The EU is dangerously lagging behind global competitors, such as the United States and China, and the Single Market, that should be one of the tools to counter this, is still fragmented and incomplete" said Stefano Mallia, President of the Employers' Group.

The EU economy urgently needs a business-friendly EU, where competitiveness is based on excellence and sound competition, instead of subsidies or protectionism, and where businesses have competitive access to all necessary resources.

"In the face of current global challenges, we need to go beyond words and support competitiveness with very concrete policy actions," Mallia continued. "A decisive shift in the EU regulatory approach is highly needed, so that business operations and not micro-managed."

The Employers' Groups calls for a new ecosystem based on solid trust between enterprises and policymakers, which together with predictability will be able to attract investments and create a level-playing field.

To achieve all this, the Employers' Group calls for 10 policy actions:

• A radical reform of the regulatory approach. Extreme regulatory requirements are preventing businesses from investing in their future, as they are forced to allocate resources to navigating red tape. Streamlining regulation, reducing administrative burdens, and rolling-out the Competitiveness Check and SME test are urgent measures.
• Productive Innovation systems, focusing on high-value investments and innovation.
• High Technological Capacity for defence, security and the green transition (such as AI and 5G), and support for technology start-ups.
• Strong Industrial Base to ensure competitive access to resources and develop a Comprehensive Critical Raw Materials Policy that supports the green and digital transitions.
• Integrated Financial Markets by developing the Capital Markets Union and the Banking Union.
• Adequate Access to Labour by increasing labour market participation and mobility of workers, by simplifying labour migration and providing training and access to EU funds to align workforce skills with business needs.
• Effective Energy and Transport Systems to secure low-carbon energy supply and accelerate investment in transport infrastructure.
• Equal Trading Conditions to boost trade agreements and reciprocity with key global partners to secure a strong position for EU companies.
• Business-oriented Green Transition by aligning policies for sustainable growth.
• Efficient Public Finances by increasing funding to strengthen security, by using public investment to leverage private investment, and by safeguarding a level playing field and sound competition among EU businesses.

These actions are urgent if we want to harness the positive impact of competitive businesses on a robust economy and a globally influential EU.

To read and download the full paper in all 24 EU languages, please click here.

For more information, please contact:

Daniela Vincenti, Communication Adviser
daniela.vincenti@eesc.europa.eu 
+32 497 412095