CEE recommendations on the Industrial Compact for Europe

Industrial and employers’ federations from the Central and Eastern Europe – Austria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia – BUSINESSEUROPE members address a joint letter to the Heads of Governments on requirements for the new Industrial Compact for Europe before the Competitiveness Council meeting on 20 – 21 February 2014. The Compact is of capital importance for the region.

The CEE-Initiative identifies the following key areas to be primarily addressed:

* Europe urgently needs a coherent and predictable long-term climate and energy policy in support of a competitive industrial base. The EU’s commitments for tackling climate change need to be in line with global efforts, thus overly ambitious unilateral EU greenhouse gas targets (in the range of -40%) must be avoided.

* For the sake of horizontal responsibility the EU’s governance structure should be adapted to ensure all its legislative initiatives are committed to this renewed industrial policy focus.

* The central role of dynamic frontrunner enterprises, due to higher multiplier effects along value chains and their carrier function for innovation, research and internationalization, should receive particular attention, independently of the companies’ respective size.

* The Commission should continue its work on minimizing regulatory costs. However, the Commission’s impact assessment tools need to be adapted. Independent competitiveness proofing should become mandatory for all policy and legislative initiatives.