“Building on Global Europe”

Priorities for External Competitiveness from 2010 to 2014

On 22 February 2010 BUSINESSEUROPE released its “Priorities for External Competitiveness from 2010 to 2014 - Building on Global Europe”, presenting companies' views on the external dimension of the EU’s competitiveness strategy from 2010. The EU 2020 strategy should maintain the current Global Europe approach to external competitiveness while making improvements in some key areas. Recommendations include: advancing trade negotiations; creating strategic relationships with important partner countries; enabling EU competitiveness through targeted trade and investment policies; and ensuring coordination between commercial and related policies.

A more challenging environment for exporters and investors

“European firms face a difficult situation on world export and investment markets. Competition will be intense as the slow recovery in the developed world keeps global demand levels low.  In addition, though the direst predictions of a protectionist wave in response to the crisis have not been realised, many governments have introduced significant new restrictions. Given high unemployment, the pressure for protectionism will continue for some time. It will have many new ways to find expression: stimulus and stabilisation measures, though necessary, have hugely increased governments’ involvement in economies. Behind-the-border regulatory barriers will therefore be of increasing importance.“

“Priorities for External Competitiveness from 2010 to 2014 - Building on Global Europe” [pdf 1,36 MB]

Vladimíra Drbalová
International Organisations and EU Affairs