A manifesto for Europe-wide growth
The June European Parliamentary elections are approaching fast and alongside politicians, business groups are also launching their manifestos. As your representatives in Business Europe, the leading advocate for growth across Europe, we’ve fed into its manifesto, ‘Reboot Europe’. In it, business groups from every European country call for a new Industrial Deal, and for Digital and AI agendas to drive investment in innovation and talent across the continent.
Throughout the business community in every country, there is a clear interest in less regulation and more focus on making Europe a more attractive investment location. And it looks like there might be more of an open door for that this election. While in 2019, energy and climate change were the top ticket items for all parties, the war in Ukraine as well as the cost-of-living and energy crises have led to a more cautious approach. Now, in recent weeks, the centre-right party, the EPP has been pushing for a refocus towards competitiveness. Even Ursula von der Leyen, who is running for a second term as European Commission President, seems to be looking to shift the agenda there.
What the European elections mean for you
For the UK, the elections matter not just because of their impact on the Trade and Co-operation Agreement, which is due to be reviewed in 2025/26, but also for our geopolitical interests in the world. With rising tensions and challenges across the globe, economic security has become more than a buzzword, and the EU is no exception. Many governments have been using the term as a cover for more protectionist agendas, to the detriment of free and open trade.
Against this backdrop, the CBI will continue to campaign for free and fair trade. Through Business Europe and beyond, we will continue to press for close ties between the UK and the EU, to address shared challenges and promote our shared interests in both geopolitical and societal challenges. In particular, we will keep striving to ensure neither the UK nor the EU raises more barriers between us, to protect our trading relationship in the interests of businesses of all sizes and sectors.
Powering trade in services – get involved
We know how important trade in services – in Europe and beyond – is for our members, and it was great to see strong export growth in 2023. Now, the CBI is working to supercharge that with our new Services Trade Taskforce, a cross-sectoral group of members focused on delivering a full vision for the future of services trade, to feed into the next government.
The Taskforce will meet monthly to work up a set of recommendations to grow our services exports over the coming years. In particular, we’re going to be focusing on people, digital trade, data, regulation and UK competitiveness – looking at how government interventions and B2G partnership in these areas can bolster the UK’s position as a global services hub.
Get involved and share your insights by getting in touch with Erin Henwood.
