BusinessEurope, the organisation representing the interests of European business, published its recommendations on the future EU-UK relations on Thursday 6 February. Unsurprisingly, the organisation calls for the maintenance of the closest possible economic relationship between the partners, in order to ensure optimal rules of the game and competition.
From social security to mobility, from taxation to data protection and transfer, BE wants the European Commission to work to minimise the gap between regulatory systems, normative regimes and other sectoral policies.
In cases where London does not wish to maintain its acquis communautaire, the United Kingdom should be invited to remain present in the various European mechanisms and bodies (CEN-CENELEC, REX, UPC, etc.) in order to maintain this regulatory alignment.
EU negotiators, who will sit down in March with their British counterparts to negotiate the terms of their future relationship, must avoid any form of 'dumping' at the EU border, the document says. European companies therefore also wish (see EUROPE 12420/1) to establish "the right balance between rights and obligations, in order to establish a level playing field", particularly for competition, taxation and State Aid policies, and compliance with "environmental, safety and social standards". And to call for "appropriate safeguards" in the event of non-compliance with these standards.
On the question of the timetable for the talks, European businesses call for a sufficiently long extension of the transitional period, if necessary, to avoid economic operators having to adapt twice to different framework conditions, which would entail enormous costs.
Some key elements
More specifically, BusinessEurope is concerned about future customs formalities that will affect trade, calling on the parties to simplify and homogenise procedures. Verification of origin at customs should be based on the judgement of the customs authority of the exporting country (and not of the importer). To limit the impact on the value chains of the EU and its partners, BE believes that London should apply the same rules of origin and sign mutual recognition agreements (MRAs).
A thorough and comprehensive agreement must be reached for the transfer of personal and non-personal data, BusinessEurope also believes. And to call on the British government to continue the implementation of the GDPR.
As for the negotiations on services, they will have to be conducted on the basis of a negative list (liberalisation of all services except those included in the list) and also include audiovisual services (excluded from the European mandate for the time being).
Finally, companies want a system in place to protect their investments. (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel)