Europe Needs More Growth and Jobs – Boosting Competitiveness by Cutting Bureaucracy and Overregulation

At the recent European People’s Party (EPP) meeting last weekend in Berlin, a resolution was issued. The paper reads less radically than some of the statements made to the press by individual participants, which is not surprising. Alongside nearly ten EPP government leaders, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was also present. Suspending certain regulations for two years would be a step forward, but overall, the document has not sparked much enthusiasm among the business community. For that, there would have needed to be an agreement on abolishing regulations entirely. From a power-politics perspective, the meeting was notable. The EPP holds strong positions both in the European Parliament and the Council, giving them room to push back against the Commission when needed. You can read the full-resolution paper here.