EU business to Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU: Unity and action needed to strengthen Europe’s economy

At a time of increasing global uncertainty, unity and determined action to strengthen Europe’s economy are more urgent than ever. This was the central message from the European business community to the incoming Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU during BusinessEurope’s Council of Presidents meeting. It was hosted by our Danish member federations – the Confederation of Danish Employers (DA) and Danish Industry (DI), held today in Copenhagen.

President and Directors General of our member federations met with Morten Bødskov, Danish Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, and outlined the European business community’s key priorities for the upcoming Danish Presidency. They also exchanged views with Dan Jørgensen, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, and had an audience with His Majesty King Frederik X and Her Majesty Queen Mary. Our President Fredrik Persson underlined that reigniting Europe’s economic engine is essential to mobilise the investments needed for the EU to succeed in its security, green and digital transitions, while safeguarding its social model.

“We count on the upcoming Danish Presidency to foster the broad partnership needed to meet the historical challenges the EU is facing”, he said. We are urging the EU to prioritise eight key actions during the next six months, which include: promoting an ambitious international trade policy, rapidly implementing the new Single Market Strategy, taking further measures to reduce energy costs and delivering tangible simplification of regulatory requirements. The full set of our recommendations to the Danish Presidency is outlined in our Copenhagen declaration.

Read the Copenhagen declaration

New Single Market Strategy: Business reaction

We have welcomed the launch of the European Commission’s new Single Market Strategy, while urging the EU to ensure its long-term impact. “This Strategy is a promising step forward, as it clearly tackles some of the most pressing Single Market barriers - the so-called “terrible 10”, said our Director General Markus J. Beyrer. “But what we need now are clear, longer-term objectives and stronger enforcement commitments; otherwise, the impact of this Strategy may be limited.” We have also published the first in a series of short papers showcasing practical barriers in the Single Market, ranging from the posting of workers and packaging legislation to transport infrastructure. Read it here.