Employers’ confederations from the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Poland and Sweden, as well as Norway, wrote to the President-elect of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on Monday 23 September, setting out their priorities for the future Commission 2024-2029.
It is “very reassuring that you point to the importance of competitiveness and prosperity and how to ease the life of companies throughout the EU”, they write at the outset.
These employers want a social Europe ready for the future, action on labour and skills shortages, and respect for subsidiarity and flexibility in the application of legislation.
“In an ever-evolving global landscape, Europe stands at a crucial juncture where the balance between ensuring robust social conditions for our labour force and fostering an employment-friendly environment” must be maintained. An environment conducive to business growth and competitiveness is “imperative”.
“Achieving this requires a shift in the regulatory framework towards reducing bureaucratic barriers and optimising legislative frameworks”.
“Skills and labour shortages as well as other labour market challenges are a serious threat for European competitiveness and must be tackled”, they add. Collaborative efforts between employers, educational establishments and governments are essential.
“By fostering a culture of lifelong learning and adaptability, individuals can thrive through job retention and possibilities for career advancement while contributing meaningfully to the economy”.
While it is important to “secure social progress [...], overly burdensome regulations impedes business’ ability to develop new products and new technologies”, these employers also say.
“Therefore, we advocate for the next political cycle to prioritise a balanced approach that secures flexibility and subsidiarity in policymaking”.
Member States could also be empowered to adapt regulations to their specific needs.
“Long-term sustainable economic growth and job creation requires more reforms, not more regulation”, they add.
Link to the letter: https://aeur.eu/f/dk8 (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)