The leaders of the EU countries have gathered on Thursday to discuss several concrete proposals that can strengthen the EU's competitiveness. This was stated by the President of the EU, António Costa, at a press conference after the informal EU summit on Thursday.
In this context, Thursday's "strategic brainstorm" on competitiveness has been a success, believes Costa.
- We have reached a new energy and understanding of the challenge, says António Costa.
He states that there is unanimity among the EU countries to continue with regulatory simplification. At the same time, the leaders of the EU countries have agreed to create a single internal market during 2026 and 2027, says Costa.
According to the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the leaders of the EU countries agreed that the EU Commission should present a roadmap for strengthening the internal market at the summit in March.
- There is also agreement that a report on the simplification of rules should be presented annually, says von der Leyen, referring to one of the most important demands from European companies.
The leaders also agree on the so-called 28th regime, which is to ensure common company rules across EU countries. In addition, there are demands from many EU countries to bring energy prices down, says António Costa.
- The energy transition is the most important path to lower prices and create energy independence. But it takes time.
- That is why we need solutions in the interim period. We will look at concrete solutions at the summit in March, says Costa.
Open for trade
He also sees agreement among EU countries that "Europe must be open for trade". Therefore, the EU Commission must continue its work on concluding trade agreements to diversify trade by involving new countries.
At the same time, EU leaders agreed to move forward with the proposal for a Savings and Investment Union.
- Europe lacks investment, and there will be no competitiveness without additional investment.
- I am pleased that there was unanimity to move forward with the proposal for a Savings and Investment Union, says António Costa.
According to von der Leyen, there was concrete agreement at the meeting that the first phase of the union should be implemented by the summit in June at the latest. If this does not happen, von der Leyen suggests that a smaller group of EU countries must proceed alone to complete the process.
- I prefer that it happens with all 27 countries. But if that is not possible, then we can fall back on "enhanced cooperation", says von der Leyen.
This is an EU paraphrase for the fact that the best possible solution - support from all EU countries - must be abandoned, so that fewer countries are instead allowed to proceed alone.
The CEO of the Confederation of Danish Industry, Lars Sandahl Sørensen, hopes that the announcements are a signal that EU leaders are now putting an end to "unnecessary regulation, slow processes, high costs and an internal market that is still poorly functioning".
- It is a binding task for EU leaders to remove all political obstacles to European competitiveness and energize Europe's economic muscles, says Lars Sandahl Sørensen.
/ritzau/
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