“Only with a strong, truly Single Market can we ensure economies of scale for European businesses, comparable to the US and Chinese markets. Only with joint actions will we be able to combine the goal of the green transition with the need for a more competitive industry, to build technology, infrastructure and skills to meet the demands of the 4th industrial revolution and make businesses, workers and people more resilient. our societies”.

This was noted by the president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sofia Kounenaki Efraimoglou in her statements to APE-MPE regarding the initiative she undertook for the re-establishment of the “Club of Main European Metropolitan CCIs/Club of MEMCCIs” and what she reported at the recent meeting of representatives from 12 chambers in Athens.

As noted by Mrs. Efraimoglou, the meeting in Athens was a meeting cpermanent “restart” with a special symbolic, but also practical value.

She explained at the opening meeting of the Club that the holding of the crucial elections for the European Parliament brought to the fore the big issues that we will manage in the coming years. Issues such as the anemic growth and weak productivity of the European economy. The competitiveness deficit of the European industry, the technological backwardness of Europe. The demographic problems, the lack of specialized human resources, the threat of new inequalities and the marginalization of workers and businesses, from the advance of Artificial Intelligence. The worsening of the climate crisis and the effects on economic activity, on the functionality of cities.

“Only a Europe that works together can provide sustainable solutions to these problems,” the president stressed and added: “Only with a strong, truly Single Market can we ensure economies of scale for European businesses, comparable to the markets of the US and China.

Only with joint actions will we succeed in combining the goal of the green transition with the need for a more competitive industry. To build technology, infrastructure and skills to meet the demands of the 4th industrial revolution. To make our businesses, workers and societies more resilient.

The hope of all of us is that the European Parliament and the leadership of the European institutions for the next period, will perceive and serve this need”.

The business world of Europe must also move in the same direction, i.e. on the road of cooperation, continued the president.

In this context, the chambers that represent the backbone of European businessesthey can come forward.

“It is today more important than ever, emphasized Mrs. Efraimoglou, to join forces. To create a stable, organized and functional framework for the exchange of experience and good practices. That will help us manage common challenges. To develop specialized programs and services for the needs of businesses operating in the metropolitan centers of Europe”.

The Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry believes deeply in this need, she said, which is why she is taking the initiative to lead the effort to reactivate the Club of European Metropolitan Chambers.

“The strength of Europe, the strength of its businesses and societies lies in cooperation” concluded the president.