Competitive Europe
Europe needs to enhance its competitiveness if it is to compete with its global economic counterparts in the 21st century.
In a period in which the world’s economic outlook seems to be rapidly changing and new emerging economies have an ever increasing global economic weight, Europe chose to make of the so-called Lisbon Strategy its cornerstone policy framework to live up to the expectations of its citizens and to global economic competition.
While the initial Lisbon Agenda soon proved to be flawed, its main policy lines and objectives are indeed valid, and have been confirmed in the renewed Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs.
Europe’s competitiveness can be enhanced only if action is taken in a vast number of policy fields. To name but a few, efforts towards cutting red tape, plans to develop a sustainable energy policy for Europe, actions to promote life-long learning and the completion of the Single Market are all elements which together contribute to making Europe an economically more sustainable, integrated and competitive block.
European Chambers of Commerce and Industry play a fundamental role in fostering growth from the grassroots, stimulating the creation of new businesses and promoting entrepreneurial development, especially with respect to SMEs.
|