ARTICLE2 June 2023

”We need competitive companies to achieve economic and social progress”

European business community met with Nadia Calviño, First Vice-President of the Spanish Government, in Madrid.

Today, the Presidents of BusinessEurope’s 40 member federations gathered in Madrid at the invitation of the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations, CEOE. They presented their priorities for the incoming Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union to Nadia Calviño, First Vice-President of the Government of Spain and Minister for the Economy and Digital Transformation. On 2 June, they will exchange views with Margaritis Schinas, Vice President of the European Commission, and will have an audience with His Majesty King Felipe VI.

– We need competitive companies to strengthen Europe’s global position, ability to stand up for our values, secure high living standards and deliver on the green and digital transitions. We trust that the incoming Spanish Presidency of the EU will build on the work started earlier this year to launch an ambitious European competitiveness strategy, CEOE President Antonio Garamendi said.

– Falling energy prices through the mild winter helped steer the EU economy away from recession, but some countries are in recession and the situation remains challenging for many businesses. We expect growth to reach just 0.7 % in the EU in 2023 and 1.6 % in 2024, provided downside risks such as continuing geo-political instability don’t materialise, BusinessEurope President Fredrik Persson said.

Reduce regulatory burden

– When steering negotiations on EU policies, the Spanish Presidency should promote a strategic approach to competitiveness, help reduce regulatory burden for companies, deepen the Single Market integration, and secure energy supply at competitive prices, Fredrik Persson said.

– Trade is key and we need to diversify sources of supply of critical raw materials and export markets. We fully support the incoming Spanish Presidency intention to give a new impetus to the conclusion and ratification of trade agreements with Chile, Mexico and Mercosur.

Please see the Madrid declaration of BusinessEurope’s Council of Presidents here.

Contact our EU Office

Address

Rue du Luxembourg 3
BE-1000 Bruxelles
Subscribe to our Swedish newsletter
Contact our EU Office

Address

Rue du Luxembourg 3
BE-1000 Bruxelles
Subscribe to our Swedish newsletter
Contact our EU Office

Address

Rue du Luxembourg 3
BE-1000 Bruxelles
Subscribe to our Swedish newsletter
Contact our EU Office

Address

Rue du Luxembourg 3
BE-1000 Bruxelles
Subscribe to our Swedish newsletter
Publisher and editor-in-chief Anna Dalqvist