Press release: EESC Employers' Group and CEOE join forces ahead of Spanish Presidency of the EU

Stefana Mallia, Spanish EESC Employers' Group members and CEOE representatives

17 February – Employers' Group President Stefano Mallia visited Spain this week to meet with the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE), which comprises over two million companies from all sectors of activity, and prepare together the upcoming Spanish Presidency of the EU.

President Mallia, accompanied by a delegation of Spanish members of the Employers' Group, underlined the need to defend the Single Market and push for a more competitive Europe. 
They presented the newly adopted priorities of the Group for a Competitiveness Agenda. "In order to deliver common good and prosperity for all, companies need competitive access to resources, open markets with equal rules and a business-friendly regulation and taxation," stressed President Mallia.

The CEOE is currently working on its business priorities for the Spanish Presidency and they are also coordinating with their Swedish and Belgian business organisations, as the countries are both holding the rotating presidency of the EU in 2023 and 2024. 

During the trip, President Mallia with President of the CEOE European Affairs Committee Jesús Ortiz, also met Maria Lledó, Secretary-General for European affairs of the Spanish State Secretariat for the EU.

The recent Presidencies of the Czech Republic and Sweden have placed a strong emphasis on competitiveness and the Spanish presidency must advance negotiations on files related to Europe's strategic competitiveness pillars, particularly in the context of the Green Deal. 

"We count on the Spanish Presidency to continue prioritising competitiveness, including in the trio priorities, and act decisively to ensure Europe's long-term competitiveness, prosperity and role on the global stage" said Stefano Mallia, echoing a recent statement by Spain Prime Minister Sanchez who underlined the Presidency will place among its main priorities the search for greater strategic autonomy and ensure that the EU responds to the current challenge with the recovery of strategic industrial capacities.

The Employers' Group delegation included Andrés Barceló (UNESID - Spanish Steelmaking and Primary Steel Processing Association), Helena de Felipe (CEPYME - Spanish Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises), Antonio García del Riego (AEB - Spanish Banking Association), Felipe Medina (ASEDAS - Spanish Association of Distributors, Self-Service Stores and Supermarkets), Josep Puxeu (FIAB - Spanish Food and Drink Industry Federation), José Ignacio Salafranca (CEOE) and Isabel Yglesias (CEOE).

For more information, please contact:
Daniela Vincenti, Communication Adviser
daniela.vincenti@eesc.europa.eu
+32 497 412095
 

Work organisation