Newsletter

Spotlight on European competitiveness

€17 trillion: that is roughly what the European Union’s gross domestic product amounts to, making it one of the world’s economic powerhouses. In today’s fast-changing global economy and challenging geopolitical situation, the EU must take action to safeguard and boost its competitive edge on the global stage. The EU’s internal market is one of its greatest assets in this regard, along with future-focused policies to help address obstacles for competitiveness and foster innovation.

Ensuring that goods and services can move freely within the EU’s single market means consumers can benefit from a wider choice of products at more competitive prices. It also opens opportunities for businesses, providing them with more potential to grow. With its policies, the EU creates the conditions for companies to compete fairly with each other, and works to prevent practices that negatively impact consumers.

The current situation of the global economy, marked by increasing instability in supply chains and shortages in labour and skills, brings particular challenges. Against this background, the EU set out plans to secure a sustainable supply of critical raw materials and key technologies including semiconductors. These items are crucial for developing products that will allow us to meet our climate and digital objectives. The plans include measures that will help increase production of these materials within the EU and boost our ability to withstand disruptions in global supply chains.

In their strategic agenda for 2024-2029, the leaders of EU Member States underlined their commitment to strengthening the EU’s competitiveness on a global level. They outlined several priorities to achieve this objective, including:

• investing in skills, training and education,
• further promoting an innovation- and business-friendly environment in the EU,
• mobilising both public and private funding for investment projects, including by integrating European capital markets.

Strengthening European competitiveness is also at the heart of the objectives that the European Commission that took office on 1 December 2024 has set itself.

Our December newsletter puts the spotlight on European competitiveness. As always, we also recommend publications on other topics.

Enjoy the good reads!

A clean industrial deal delivering decarbonisation and competitiveness PDF

Amid high energy prices and intense global competition, the EU is at a crossroads. How can it decarbonise its industries while boosting their resilience and remaining a global leader? Read about the Clean Industry Deal, the EU’s plan to support industries through the green transition.

Available in English

Align, act, accelerate PDF/Paper

Research, technology and innovation to boost European competitiveness

This report provides recommendations on how to maximise the impact of EU research and innovation programmes in the future. These include launching a technology monitoring initiative, increasing expenditure on research and development including through private investments, and boosting cross-border cooperation in research projects.

Available in English

Europe's sustainability transitions outlook PDF

Short-term action, long-term thinking

In recent years, Europe has faced a multitude of risks and shocks to its food, water, energy and other crucial systems. As the EU navigates a convergence of economic, social, and environmental crises, this report recommends strategies that can help the EU align its short-term actions to address these crises with long-term sustainability goals.

Available in English

How can Europe meet China’s technology challenge? PDF

Complexity, contestation, cost and consequences

With China’s emergence as a leading player in the technology industry, this research paper explores the EU’s economic relationship with the country. It looks at how EU-China relations have evolved throughout recent decades as well as the impact of these relations on either side. The paper also raises questions as to how these ties may evolve in years to come.

Available in English

Data sharing and competition law html

The state of play and the way forward

Explore the benefits that open data can bring to small- and medium-sized enterprises, from helping them find business opportunities to providing them with insights on their competitors. See also what the EU has been doing to stimulate a fair and competitive data market, including via the Data Act.

Available in English

Annual report on European Small and Medium Enterprises 2023/2024 PDF

SME performance review 2023/2024

SMEs make up over 99% of EU businesses and are an integral part of the EU’s economy. They are a vibrant component of EU society and deeply embedded in local communities. How have SMEs been performing and what kind of policy actions are proposed to maximise their opportunities? Read all about it in this report!

Available in English