Agency Report –
Berlin – German industry associations on Thursday called on the European Union to pursue more business-friendly policies amid increasing competition from abroad, as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was in Berlin for talks with representatives.
“Competitiveness is at risk” in many parts of the bloc, the groups representing workers, manufacturers and traders said in a joint statement.
Von der Leyen promised relief, acknowledging that it was vital to fight for European competitiveness.
High energy prices, a shortage of skilled workers and excessive red tape are slowing down innovation and investment, according to German industry representatives.
The EU needs to come up with an agenda to improve competitiveness, they said, urging cuts to red tape in particular.
“Complex regulations and excessive reporting requirements must not be allowed to stifle the innovative and investment power of our companies.”
They said the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal should guarantee that energy remains affordable and reliably available even as demand rises.
They also called for the internal market to be strengthened as well as better conditions for skilled workers to move freely in the bloc.
Von der Leyen agreed with business representatives that the most important areas in need of addressing were bureaucracy, affordable energy, boosting the internal market, new trade agreements and relief for small and medium-sized enterprises.
“I am aware of how much the jumble of rules, reporting requirements and other obligations [in the EU] makes doing business difficult in the truest sense of the word,” von der Leyen said.
She said the commission was working with representatives and companies from various sectors to comb through EU legislation in order to remove barriers within the EU internal market.
