Brussels, 24/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - The result from the British referendum on Friday 24 June has provoked some strong reactions from both business sector representatives and the trade union world. They have both put forward several areas for taking action to increase European added value.
BusinessEurope, the organisation representing European employers, regretted the choice made by the British people. Its president, Emma Marcegaglia, stated that the Brexit did create a factor of uncertainty but that it was absolutely necessary that the European Union was reformed.
BusinessEurope put forward five different areas in which to build: focusing on areas in which the Union can deliver real added value and leave aside those aside that can be better tackled at national or regional levels, according to the subsidiarity principle; defining and implementing a "genuinely” external European strategy that is coherent and open to the outside world, which includes a strong economic pillar and that the Union speaks with a single voice on the international scene, such as in the context involving security policy and trade negotiations; implementing a "smarter" legislation, as well as policies that really do promote competitiveness at both European and national levels; maintaining the Schengen area, by providing a response to the refugee crisis and ensuring efficient external border management; improving the Union's economic and monetary governance by drawing on the so-called "five presidents" report (see EUROPE 11340).
The UEAPME, which represents SMEs in Europe also regretted the results from the referendum and predicted some negative effects that could affect the United Kingdom, the other member states and SMEs. This organisation also shares the same analysis: this event demonstrates that the Union must be significantly reformed, as stated by its President, Ulrike Rabmer-Koller. The latter said that the fundamental area in which to build must include a focus on reducing the bureaucracy undermining SMEs' activities.
Unions come up with proposals. The trade unions are also on a war footing. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) therefore stated in a press release that "Brexit” "sounded the alarm" for the EU. The ETUC is therefore proposing to tackle the root causes of European workers' discontent, in an effort to avoid a domino effect. It is putting forward a range of proposals. The unions are seeking: a migration dossier, suspension of the EU-Turkey agreement on the effective relocation of 60,000 refugees, as well as improved use of the Asylum Migration Immigration Fund (AMIF); on jobs and growth, they call for the national productivity councils project to be abandoned and call for specific country recommendations that are more focused on social and employment policies and that they stop the attacks on the minimum wage. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)