A competitiveness check to build a stronger and more resilient EU economy

Key points

The EESC:

• recognises that the single market and the EU social market economy are the EU's greatest assets for achieving economic growth and social wellbeing. Thus, the EESC calls for a competitiveness check to support enterprise, job creation and improved working conditions, as well as sustainable economic growth and social cohesion;

• emphasises that the competitiveness check should be a key part of balanced EU decision-making and should be applied in the context of any EU policy and law-making process. It should cover legislative initiatives, secondary legislation, fiscal measures, strategies and programmes, as well as international agreements;

• believes that it is crucial to ensure that competitiveness impact assessment is mandatory, effective and fully enforced at each stage of the decision-making process. The EESC appreciates the current Better Regulation Guidelines and Toolbox but points out that, as highlighted by the Regulatory Scrutiny Board, there is an evident need for improvements, especially with respect to the implementation of the tools;

• calls on the Commission to prepare a specific competitiveness agenda with the principal long-term goal of enhancing the EU's competitiveness;

• believes that a competitiveness agenda should build on the EU social market economy, and focus on basic issues such as the single market and foreign trade, investment and access to funding, tax systems, research and innovation, skills and labour markets, as well as MSMEs and the twin transitions, taking into account the sustainable finance framework with competitiveness being consistent with social and environmental objectives.