The EU remains, without a doubt, focused on the goals set by the Green Agreement, but more flexibility is needed to achieve these goals by European Commission President Ursula von der Lain on Wednesday, on the occasion of the presentation of the “Community” plan ” Competitiveness Compass “that includes a series of policies to stimulate the development of the block.

“Our business model was essentially based on cheap workforce, apparently from China, cheap energy from Russia and partly on the assignment of security investments to third parties. These days have passed, “the commission leader noted in a press conference after presenting the Competitiveness Compass.

“We have a plan, we have a road map. We have the political will. Now, what is essentially important is speed and unity, “he added, heralding moves to stimulate innovation, promoting the effort of charring and ensuring energy supply and trade flows of the Union.

The head of the Commission has warned that if the EU does not act “it is in danger of getting stuck in a low -growth course, with lower incomes for workers, less prosperity for the disadvantaged, and fewer opportunities for everyone.”

Therefore, as he pointed out, Europe must become more business -friendly in order to compete with the United States and China, without sacrificing its climate goals in the process. In this context, listening to the calls of EU countries to reduce bureaucracy that prevents business growth, stressed the beginning of an “unprecedented effort to create simpler rules” and accelerate bureaucratic processes, especially in terms of implementation of the goals of the green agreement.

“We have to be able to say ‘this was not enough, we have to do it differently’ or ‘this is hyperbulling’,” he added.

The head of the Commission added that European businesses have sent a very clear message: that they have to deal with “overly complex” and “very burdensome” processes. That is why, as he pointed out, the plan to simplify the rules promoted in the context of the “Competitiveness Compass”, which will be presented next month, aims to reduce the administrative costs for companies by 25% and 35% for small and medium -sized Businesses.

The goals

One of the goals of the “Competitiveness Compass” is energy, as companies are complaining about high prices that have been soaring after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which makes it difficult for European businesses to compete from other countries. In this context, the Commission calls on member countries to step up their investments in electricity networks and storage facilities in order to make it possible to transition to renewable energy.

The “Competitiveness Compass” also includes actions that will help polluting industries reduce emissions of pollutants that contribute to global warming, through targeted plans to support steel and chemical producers, in the context of a 90% reducing emissions target. by 2040.

The Commission will also consider ways in which it can support automakers, which are faced with the risk of billions of euros in fines due to their inability to achieve their emissions targets this year.

In this context, the “Competitiveness Competitiveness” provides for the search for “immediate solutions to ensure the investment capacity of the industry, considering possible flexibility to ensure that our industry remains competitive, without reducing the overall ambition of the 2025 goals”, as stated.

“There must be justice in the system because some have invested” in the development of electric vehicles, Ursula von der Laien said characteristically, but added that rules should be “less complex” and include “flexibility and pragmatism” to help automakers In this transition.

Since one major problem for implementing the “Competitiveness Compass” is the limited funding available -even as even major block economies such as France and Germany are fighting with their debts and deficits, challenges that commercial tensions with the US and US China could deteriorate- the Commission plans to reuse the unmistakable regional funding for projects that respond to its agenda for its competitiveness.

In this context, it calls on financial institutions such as the European Investment Bank to channel funding to programs such as the Techeu Investment Program to bridge the financial gap to innovative businesses.

The Commission’s plan also provides for an forthcoming competitive fund, which will also aim to promote capital in critical projects, as well as initiatives to further liberalize private capital through a savings and investment association.

The plan is particularly wide and takes into account many of the recommendations of Mario Draghi’s competitiveness exposure to a series of sectors where the European economy is lagging behind or fragmented.

Finally, the Plan of the Commission raises social issues that usually do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Commission, appealing to the governments of Member States to open labor markets as the working population is older and pressing to take action to deal with deficiencies.