BERLIN (Reuters) – German entrepreneurs value the political stability and market access the European Union provides, but say the bloc is too bureaucratic. This was revealed in a survey of 3,000 companies by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry DIHK.
At the same time, it stresses the urgent need to strengthen the competitiveness of the European economy after the European elections, as it is seen as under threat.
DIHK Managing Director Martin Wansleben said: “Despite a fundamental head start, Europe is at risk of losing ground in international competition. This trend must be stopped immediately. No,” he said.
He said the EU's Green Deal was too bureaucratic. “We need less bureaucracy, not more, so that companies have more resources to restructure their operations for the climate,” Wansleben said.
Of the companies surveyed, 95% said reducing bureaucracy is a priority.
Some 68% of companies want a secure and affordable energy supply to be the second focus of future EU policy.
“We are acutely aware that an affordable and secure energy supply cannot be taken for granted, but it is also fundamental for businesses and therefore for European jobs,” said Sybil, Vice President of Eurochambre. Thierer said.
Effective protection against cyber-attacks is becoming increasingly important, with 52% of businesses choosing it as a desirable priority.
The DIHK Company Barometer for the 2024 European Elections shows that companies rate their performance in the EU as political stability (82% of companies surveyed), a stable currency (76%) and harmonized EU norms and standards ( 68%), indicating that they value it as access to the European market (66%).
However, almost two-thirds of German companies think the EU has become less attractive as a business location over the past five years, and 56% feel business activity has declined, the survey reveals. became.
(Reporting by Maria Martinez; Editing by William MacLean)
