Spain will assume the presidency on July 1
The document “The opportunity to strengthen Europe”, prepared by the European Affairs Commission of the Spanish Chamber, includes 30 proposals grouped into five priority axes of action: competitiveness, resilience, digitalization, sustainability and geostrategy.
![[Img # 50706]](https://empresaexterior.com/upload/images/01_2023/6498_europa.jpg)
La Presidency of the Council of the European Union, that Spain will take office next July 1, means leading the EU's agenda of political and economic action priorities. The Chamber of Spain, through the European Affairs Committee, wants to contribute to the definition of these priorities, presenting the vision of the business community on the challenges and opportunities of said mandate, as well as providing support to the Government in the field of public-private collaboration.
“The Chambers are representative entities of companies, we are part of civil society seeking to defend the interests of companies and society as a whole. In this role that public-private collaboration offers us, and aware of the crucial moment in which we find ourselves, we have carried out a reflection exercise that emanates from the base of the business fabric with contributions from companies from all sectors, territories and dimensions. , Explain José Luis Bonet, president of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce.
To John Rutherford, president of the European Affairs Commission of the Spanish Chamber, “a powerful economy is the basis of sustained development and competitiveness, and consequently of job creation, as well as the best defense of the European model in the global context.”
Competitive Europe
In the current context of geopolitical uncertainty, the Spanish Chamber considers that the European Union must work in two interrelated fronts: provide their companies with an appropriate environment for the development of productive activity and to access the necessary resources, and, in parallel, with community policies aimed at strengthening the competitiveness and position of European companies in the world.
For this reason, the Chamber of Spain proposes, first of all, to adapt the initiatives to support the productive fabric and competition policy, stimulating the existence and consolidation of key sectors and companies. This coincides with what was stated by 67,7% of the companies surveyed for the preparation of this report, which prioritize the development of sectoral policies.
Also, and at identify policies specifically aimed at companies, the Spanish Chamber is committed to proposals related to express support for European SMEs, starting with internationalization. In this regard, although the UE develops numerous actions to support and promote business internationalization; The coordination between these and the policies of the Member States can be improved in various aspects. Therefore, it is committed to promoting the evaluation, coherence and coordination of the measures applied, strengthening, in particular, the initiatives European Network for Business and Startup Europe.
Furthermore, from the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, it would be appropriate to take steps in the following directions:
Promote the single market for services, eliminating barriers and guaranteeing effective mechanisms for its defense.
Promote and guarantee the correct execution of the European Innovation Agenda.
Strengthen the development of the Trans-European Transport Network.
Promote a will and an effective commitment to the Banking and Capital Markets Union at European level.
Promote corporate tax harmonization at the European level by promoting EU coordination with its trading partners (OECD/G20).
Improve training for employment by promoting the adaptation of training itineraries to the needs of companies.
Advocate for viable sustainability due diligence regulation.
Resilient Europe
The document from the European Affairs Commission of the Spanish Chamber also addresses the analysis and implementation of instruments and policies that contribute to strengthening the resilience capacity of the EU in the current global context. With this, the European economy and societies will be better prepared to overcome and adapt to adverse and unforeseen situations.
In line with the priorities expressed by 55,1% of the companies consulted, emphasis is placed on the need to promote the design of a European strategy that addresses the demographic and migration challenge facing the EU, which includes specific initiatives such as the development of a European migration policy that contributes to the intelligent management of migratory flows, the proper functioning of the labor market and the attraction of talent, meeting the needs of companies and markets local. Other proposals that the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU should work on, in favor of European resilience:
Promote and facilitate international mobility of workers and students in the EU
Promote the improvements stipulated in the evaluation and documentation procedures of the national recovery and resilience plans (Next Generation EU funds).
Ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of European structural and investment funds by defining an improved multiannual financial framework adapted to the challenges.
Promote agreement on the new EU tax rules framework.
Strengthen the territorial, economic and social cohesion of the EU by bringing European decisions closer to citizens and the local business community.
Promote an initial reflection on the predefined reaction mechanisms that Europe should equip itself with to be better prepared for possible unforeseen future crises.
Among these proposals is express support for SMEs, promoting the design of a European strategy that addresses the demographic and migration challenge or promoting the adoption of common data and cybersecurity strategies.
Digital Europe
In the area of digital transformation, European authorities must ensure that technology is accessible to all and that digitalization is a safe and balanced process. In this framework, and coinciding with 60,6% of the companies surveyed, the Spanish Chamber considers that the Spanish presidency should contribute to strengthening the resources and programs for the digitalization of the EU's productive fabric. Among other initiatives suggested by the report of the European Affairs Commission of the Spanish Chamber, they include, in summary:
Promote the development of an inclusive and high-performing European digital educational ecosystem by adapting national educational systems.
Claim the strategic relevance of 5G networks in the EU.
Promote the adoption of common data and cybersecurity strategies.
Promote the homogenization of digital taxation at the European level through the application of the OECD/G20 agreement.
Sustainable Europe
The urgency towards a green transition has accelerated and become essential not only to combat the climate crisis but also to strengthen European economies and increase their security, while taking advantage of the opportunities derived from the green transition.
In this axis, to contribute to the transition towards a sustainable Europe, the priorities to be considered during the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU should be aimed, first of all, at reducing energy dependence on third countries, reorganizing and completing the European energy market. This is how the vast majority of the companies surveyed see it (87,4%) and this is also reflected in the work of the European Affairs Commission of the Spanish Chamber. A milestone that requires multiple actions ranging from increasing investment in R&D of decarbonization technologies to the development of energy interconnections in the EU. Other priorities included in this pillar refer to:
Guarantee a framework for the transition to climate neutrality that guarantees business competitiveness.
Examine the emission rights markets directive as it applies to maritime transport.
Design common instruments for the detection, knowledge and coordinated management of high-impact meteorological and climate phenomena.
Geostrategic Europe
The current situation calls for a deep reflection on the positioning of the European Union on a global scale and on its security and defence, while safeguarding its interests, defending its values and its way of life, and contributing to future global well-being.
With regard to the influence of the EU in the world, the document includes the priorities expressed by 54,6% of companies, in line with accelerating the European trade agenda and, in particular, the pending trade agreements and the already negotiated, underpinning trade alliances and relocating Latin America among the EU's priority areas. Furthermore, to achieve a Geostrategic Europe, the agenda should include:
Move towards open strategic autonomy with a new configuration of global value chains and redefining the EU's trade and industrial policy.
Promote the establishment of a common defense policy.
Move forward in defining the guidelines of a new Migration and Asylum Pact, which addresses the unification of national flow management systems.
Guarantee the functioning of the European instruments put in place to increase the influence and presence of the EU in the world.
The report “The opportunity to strengthen Europe” has been prepared within the European Affairs Commission of the Spanish Chamber after analyzing the scope and priorities of the Von der Leyen Commission and the College of Commissioners, the agenda of the annual plan Spanish regulations and the priorities of the imminent rotating presidencies of the EU Council. Once the 5 axes described as a starting point have been identified, the report has been prepared on the basis of three complementary pillars: field work to obtain the direct opinion of companies, business conferences and meetings with European parliamentarians in the territorial Chambers of Commerce , and an internal analysis work by the Chamber of Spain.
30 business priorities and proposals for the Spanish presidency of the EU
Sustainable Europe
1. Review and adapt initiatives to support the productive fabric and competition policy, stimulating the existence and consolidation of key and/or leading sectors and companies on the global stage.
2. Promote the single market for services, eliminating barriers and guaranteeing effective mechanisms for its defense, with special attention to reducing obstacles linked to administrative requirements for cross-border service providers (prior controls) and cross-border restrictions for professionals who They provide temporary and occasional services (documentary requirements).
3. Impulsar y garantizar la correcta ejecución de la Agenda Europea de Innovación, que contribuya a sentar las bases y mejorar el contexto para una Europa innovadora: incremento de la transferencia universidad – empresa, revisión de la legislación de protección de dibujos y modelos industriales, de los mecanismos de coordinación de las políticas de I+D+i y del marco de ayudas de Estado.
4. Strengthen the development of the Trans-European Transport Network, promoting the transfer of freight transport to rail, the improvement of rail and port infrastructure, and greater connections of areas with unique needs.
5. Promote a will and an effective commitment to the Banking and Capital Markets Union at European level, returning to the priority agenda the negotiations to approve a roadmap for a European Deposit Guarantee System and guaranteeing stability and trust in uncertain scenarios.
6. Modernize the policy scheme to support the internationalization of SMEs, promoting the evaluation, coherence and coordination of the measures applied and strengthening, in particular, the European Business Network and Startup Europe initiatives.
7. Promote corporate tax harmonization at the European level by promoting EU coordination with its trading partners (OECD/G20).
8. Improve training for employment by promoting the adaptation of training itineraries to the needs of companies, promoting higher vocational training as a generator of talent and supporting companies for professional retraining.
9. Advocate for viable regulation of sustainability due diligence, harmonized, coordinated and coherent at Community level, which takes into account the impact on business competitiveness, administrative burdens or legal uncertainty.
Resilient Europe
10. Increase the resilience of the European labor market by promoting and facilitating the international mobility of workers and students in the EU.
11. Promote the improvements stipulated in the evaluation and documentation procedures of the national recovery and resilience plans (Next Generation EU funds) and promote reflection on the convenience of establishing new margins that grant flexibility to the established conditions.
12. Ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the European structural and investment funds (European ERDF programs, European Social Fund,...), defining an improved multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 adapted to the challenges of the period.
13. Promote the design of a European strategy that addresses the demographic and migration challenge facing the EU, which addresses measures to promote birth rates, promotes the development of a European migration policy and lays the foundations for a European health system.
14. Promote the review of EU fiscal rules so that a consensus is reached on the new community economic governance framework for macrofiscal supervision before 2024.
15. Strengthen the territorial, economic and social cohesion of the EU by bringing European decisions closer to citizens and the local business community, and promoting the design of a method of coordination and linkage between the actions of the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism and the recovery policy. cohesion.
16. Promote an initial reflection on the predefined reaction mechanisms that Europe should have to be better prepared for possible future unforeseen crises with substantial impact in the economic, social and institutional sphere.
Digital Europe
17. Strengthen resources and programs for the digitalization of the EU's productive fabric.
18. Promote the development of a European ecosystem of high-performance and inclusive digital education (digitalization and STEM skills), supported by the necessary adaptation of national educational systems.
19. Claim the strategic relevance of 5G networks in the Union to guarantee the connectivity of the territories, promoting their uniform and timely deployment, and promoting a concerted approach among Member States on the security of 5G technology.
20. Promote the adoption of common data and cybersecurity strategies, in accordance with constantly evolving technology and needs.
21. Promote the homogenization of digital taxation at the European level through the application of the OECD/G20 convention, promoting the concretion of agreements on pillars 1 and 2, and urging the rapid creation of a dispute resolution mechanism on the matter.
Sustainable Europe
22. Reorganize and complete the European energy market, advancing in the reduction of energy dependence and the effective application of the REPowerEU plan.
23. Guarantee a framework that, with the objective of achieving climate neutrality, establishes adequate conditions from the perspective of business competitiveness in the transition towards said long-term goal.
24. Examine the emissions markets directive as it applies to maritime transport, so that it reduces pollution while preserving competitiveness and employment.
25. Design common instruments for the detection, knowledge and coordinated management of high-impact meteorological and climate phenomena.
Geostrategic Europe
26. Moving towards open strategic autonomy: new configuration of global value chains and redefinition of EU trade and industrial policy.
27. Accelerate the European trade agenda and, in particular, the conclusion of pending trade agreements and implement those already negotiated, underpinning trade alliances and repositioning Latin America among the EU's priority areas.
28. Promote the establishment of a common defense policy by promoting the review of the Union's defense capabilities and the adoption of common solutions, clearly and solidly establishing the governance mechanisms and national preferences in the matter.
29. Move forward in defining the guidelines of a new Migration and Asylum Pact, which addresses the unification of national flow management systems and enables tools to face both normal situations and unexpected migration crises.
30. Ensure the correct functioning of the European instruments put in place to increase the influence and presence of the EU in the world (Global Gateway), ensuring the promotion of European values.