Europe – responsible, dynamic, green and safe!

From January to June 2012, Denmark presides over the Council of the EU and continues the tasks of the Trio Presidency: Poland – Denmark – Cyprus. The Danish presidency identified four fundamental priorities to ensure stable economic growth and political development of the EU: a responsible Europe, a dynamic Europe, a green Europe, and a safe Europe.

To achieve these objectives, Denmark will seek to ensure a responsible European economy, lead discussions on the Multiannual Financial Framework for the period 2014-2020, create revitalised growth and employment in Europe, set a proactive agenda for promoting green and sustainable growth, ensure well-functioning Common European Asylum System and stronger Schengen cooperation and last but not least to support thestrengthening of the EU´s external and development policies. The Danish Presidency has to fight the gloomy economic situation in eurozone and find a solution for better EU economic governance, i.e. find an agreement on the proposal for the Treaty on Stability Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union kicked off at the European Summit in December 2011. Ensuring the financial stability of the euro area and taking forward the implementation of the measures agreed in December is also a priority of BUSINESSEUROPE, EUROCHAMBRES and UEAPME.

European employers and entrepreneurs hope that the Danish presidency will safeguard the euro and stabilise the economic situation, ensure an efficient implementation of the twelve levers of the Single Market Act, promote youth employment and reduce skills gaps, encourage Member States to implement flexicurity reforms, and request from the EU to maximise export related to growth opportunities and ask for reciprocity to promote European business interests abroad. In Particular the Confederation of Industry, Czech BUSINESSEUROPE member, has serious doubts about the feasibility of energy efficiency targets, voices high expectations for the competitiveness checks and supports evidence-based liberal approach to trade negotiations and prompt implementation of reasonable proposals in the Single Market Act.

The Czech Chamber of Commerce, member of EUROCHAMBRES and UEAPME, requests a systematic exchange of views between Council working groups and the Commission on impact assessments, especially in case of substantive amendments proposed by the Council, concluding the European patent discussion and a stimulation of SME financing and implementation of the “Basel III” capital requirements rules. Furthermore, together with UEAPME, the Chamber urges the Danish Presidency to make progress on the implementation of the Small Business Act by putting in practice the “Think Small First” principle and securing that all the specific SBA measures are put in place.