Business for New Europe

Full Conference Programme for 26 Oct -  European Growth and Competitiveness

Author: BNE

Full programme for the BNE and Polish Embassy one day conference on "European Growth and Competitiveness"

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• Published October 17, 2011

BNE Summary of Activities 2010 - 2011

Author: BNE

A 2010-2011 summary of BNE's activities, including events, publications and more. 

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• Published October 14, 2011

Rethinking the EU Budget: An Alternative Financial Perspective - 2014-2020

Author: BNE

Under our alternative budget long-term competitiveness is prioritised and member states’ contribution to the EU reduced. This publication reduces the next MFF by 10%, saves the EU about €100bn, cuts €10bn from the UK's contribution but boosts spending in areas such as research, innovation, venture capital funds and humanitarian aid.  

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• Published October 10, 2011

BNE Review - October 2011

Author: BNE

This month's review is packed with upcoming BNE events, summaries of our fringes at Party Conferences, BNE in the media and a blog on the EU's proposed Financial Transaction Tax. 

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• Published October 7, 2011

BNE Review - August 2011

Author: BNE

Content in this month's issue also includes analysis of the recent developments in the euro zone and the EU's new supervisory structures in financial services.

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• Published August 3, 2011

BNE Party Conferences Programme 2011

Author: BNE

BNE has a comprehensive programme of events for this year's party conference season. Amongst others, we are holding two series of events across all three conferences, one on the ageing demographic and the the other on the euro crisis.  We would be delighted to welcome you there and please do not hesitate to get in touch if you would like further information. Please note that this document will be updated as speakers confirm their participation. 

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• Published July 29, 2011

Policy Statement on Economic Governance

Author: Business for New Europe

A position statement setting out BNE's support for the Economic Governance compromise to be voted on by the European Parliament 23 June 2011.

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• Published June 22, 2011

Competitiveness - What the EU needs to do

Author: BNE

This publication makes numerous suggestions as to what EU policymakers should do to bolster the EU’s competitiveness.  Certain themes emerge with particular strength.  Completion of the single market in services, energy and the digital arena is listed as a priority, along with labour market reform, investment in infrastructure, providing incentives for innovation and green growth and simplifying access to venture capital.

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• Published June 17, 2011

BNE Review - June 2011

Author: BNE

The headlines continue to tell a story of Europe in a state of crisis and the euro allegedly close to collapse.  There is a crisis, but the more dire predictions are pretty wide off the mark.  They ignore the more important underlying story of a battle in European capitals over how to set the EU on the path to economic recovery.  We will examine this question in the publication we will be releasing on the 17 June.

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• Published June 6, 2011

Economic Ideas Forum

Author: BNE

Full programme for the Economic Ideas Forum on 26 May, including theme of each panel discussion, list of speakers and timings.

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• Published May 13, 2011

BNE Review - May 2011

Author: BNE

This issue includes comment on Bin Laden's death, the Arab Spring and recent euro zone developments, including BNE Director, Phillip Souta, discussing the Portuguese bail-out on Jeff Randall Live. The review also looks ahead to our upcoming two day conference, the second annual Economic Ideas Forum, speakers include Christine Lagarde, French Minister for Economic Affairs and Mark Hoban MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury. 

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• Published May 13, 2011

BNE Summary of Activities in 2010

Author: Business for New Europe

A summary detailing BNE's activities throughout 2010. 

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• Published December 1, 2010

The Case for a UK Sovereignty Bill - Options and Analysis

Author: Business for New Europe

This publication examines the case for a UK Sovereignty Bill.  The government coalition agreement states: “We will examine the case for a United Kingdom Sovereignty Bill to make it clear that ultimate authority remains with Parliament”.  It outlines the relationship between EU and Member States’ laws, the current position in the UK, and other member states such as France and Germany.  The document goes on to examine a number of options from maintaining the status quo to wholesale constitutional reform.

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• Published July 29, 2010

BNE Party Conference Programme

Author: Business for New Europe

BNE has a comprehensive programme of events this coming Party Conference season - two and the Liberal Democrats, two at Labour and three at the Conservatives' conferences.  Please do come along, and contact us if you have any questions.  This document will be updated as speakers confirm their participation.

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• Published July 26, 2010

BNE Business Manifesto

Author: Business for New Europe

At the start of the 21st century, the UK faces an ever greater challenge to have its voice heard in a world increasingly defined by America and China. What the UK has to say, however, matters. The principles the UK stands for, of openness, competition and democracy are as important now as they ever have been.

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• Published April 16, 2010

Turkey in Europe: The economic case for Turkish membership of the European Union

Author: Various

Edited by Adam Hug

Prefaces by David Miliband MP and William Hague MP

Contributions from Commissioner Olli Rehn, Dr. Mehmet Ugur, Professor Refik Erzan, Dr Bahadir Kaleagasi (TUSIAD), Roland Rudd, Sir Julian Horn-Smith and Dr Gareth M. Winrow

With annual growth rates of 7.5% over the last five years, Turkey’s economy has been the envy of many EU Member States. Turkish people have felt the benefits, with per capita income having doubled since 2003. Add to the picture a young, well-educated population, the importance of Turkey to our energy security, and its success as a democratic majority-Muslim state and the conclusion is clear: we have in Turkey a partner of immense promise.

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• Published April 9, 2010

Obama and Europe: Building Closer Transatlantic Economic Relations

Author: Various

Introduction by Roland Rudd with contributions from senior business leaders such as Sir Richard Branson, Sir Win Bischoff and Andrew Moss.

As President Obama becomes the 44th President of the United States, we are delighted to publish this collection of short articles from Europe-based business leaders. They focus on the potential for transatlantic economic cooperation and are essentially optimistic about the future even against a difficult overall economic backdrop.

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• Published April 8, 2010

A Climate Mission for Europe: Leadership and Opportunity

Author: Various

Forewords by Stavros Dimas and Roland Rudd

Introduction by Ben Moxham and Zaki Cooper with contributions by senior business leaders

This publication surveys the EU’s recent track record on energy and climate policy leading up to the crucial Copenhagen climate talks later this year, the most important to be held in more than a decade.

Unusually for a subject as controversial as the EU, there is now a near-universal consensus in place on the importance of a Europewide approach on energy and climate change (considered together because burning fossil fuels is by far the biggest source of manmade greenhouse gas emissions). This is one of the themes to emerge from this collection of articles by twenty of Europe’s most influential business leaders.

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• Published April 8, 2010

The Emerged market: Business and the enlargement of the European Union

Author: Business For New Europe

Enlargement of the European Union has consistently been one of the underlying drivers of growth for the European economy. The enlargement process has benefited old and new member states, and the EU as a whole, since new capabilities, expertise, products and markets are added every time a country joins the Union.

The fact that the EU of 27 member states and of 500 million people has become the world's largest economic zone is a direct result of our commitment to a carefully managed enlargement policy. Our internal market has both helped to achieve this and is also evidence of that great success story. It did that through increased trade, common standards, partnerships, exchange of best practices, business incentives, new and better jobs, and a Europe-wide industrial restructuring by cross-national production networks which has resulted in more growth and enabled Europe to play a leading role in the global market.

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• Published October 14, 2008

Executive Summary and Principles on Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs)

Author: Business For New Europe

Executive Summary and Principles to the Full Report - cf. Full Report

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• Published October 1, 2008

Full Report on Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs)

Author: Business For New Europe

Background:

On 11 October 2008, the International Working Group of Sovereign Wealth Funds (IWG) will publish a set of principles aimed at allaying mounting concerns among Western nations that SWFs – funds that are owned or controlled by foreign governments – are simply the instruments of state policy of the governments that own them rather than genuine investment vehicles.

The reaction these principles generate will be crucial in determining whether the European Union will open its doors to SWFs or pull up the protectionist drawbridge. Business for New Europe has been reviewing the appropriate framework towards SWFs, and believes that it is in the EU’s interest to be open to SWFs, rather than attempt to exclude them.

BNE’s review examined the size, investment policies, transaction history, transparency and accountability of SWFs in order to assess the contribution they have made towards global financial markets at this febrile time, and explores how a balance can be struck between the interests of SWFs and the recipient countries.

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• Published October 1, 2008

EU-Russia Relations (Policy Paper)

Author: Business For New Europe

On 26 and 27 June in Siberia the EU and Russia will start talks on a new partnership agreement. These talks are 18 months overdue because of opposition first from Poland, over a Russian ban of its meat products, and later by Lithuanian criticism of Russia’s behaviour towards Georgia and Moldova. The talks were also stalled by general concern about the EU’s over-reliance on Russian energy imports. Due to the varying interests of the EU member states when it comes to the relationship with Russia, some having been part of the Soviet Union not so long ago, the EU sometimes struggles to come to a common position. The EU’s task for the future of the EURussia relationship is therefore to identify the common ground.

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• Published June 15, 2008

A Budget for Business:  the corporate community’s recipe for a new EU funding regime

Author: Business For New Europe

Business for New Europe welcomes the review of the EU’s budget, as a genuine attempt to assess whether the budget is fit for the EU’s purpose. Any Chief Executive or Chairman, of course, has a particular interest in budgetary affairs from their own experience of balancing the books in their boardrooms. We recognise the progress that has already been made, for example reducing the proportion of money spent on the Common Agricultural Policy, but would like to see further reform. These negotiations will not be easy, but President Sarkozy’s intimation that France would be ready to discuss CAP reform on his recent state visit to the UK was especially welcome.

This report commissioned by Business for New Europe sets out the background to the budget review and some specific views from business leaders. Amongst the British business community with a view on these issues, there is a solid consensus on the need for reform. Business wants less money on agriculture and more investment in the knowledge economy. It sees the case for greater expenditure on global challenges like poverty and climate change. It wants to see continued vigilance, with a ceiling on expenditure, so that the EU can provide value for money.

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• Published April 14, 2008

We are all Europeans now

Author: Business For New Europe

“We are all Europeans now” highlights the growing integration between Britain and the rest of Europe. It maps the economic and cultural linkages between the UK and the rest of Europe.

Many of the links are quiet and some are even hidden, but the UK’s has become increasingly influenced by Europe. That does not mean that the job has been completed – it has not and there is much more than can be done to increase integration and reduce further the barriers to the free flow of goods, services, trade, investment and people throughout Europe. On the UK’s 35th anniversary we can reflect on some of the ways life has changed in the UK as a result of closer economic and cultural integration with the rest of Europe.

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• Published January 14, 2008

A Europe Roadmap from business for the Prime Minister

Author: Business For New Europe

In the assortment of policy issues facing the incoming Brown-led UK government, we are anxious that the European dimension is given adequate attention from the perspective of policies relevant to UK business. It is important that at an early stage positive signals are sent to our European partners about the willingness to cooperate on common policy challenges.

Business for New Europe was established in March 2006 to articulate a positive case for reform in Europe. We believe passionately in the economic relationship that exists between the UK and the rest of Europe, and we would also like to see the process of economic reform continue and accelerate.

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• Published June 1, 2007

Why treaty change matters for business and for Britain (Policy Brief)

Author: Centre for European Reform

With a new generation of reform-minded leaders in charge of France, Germany and the Commission, Britain has an opportunity to help lead the EU towards a more pragmatic, economically liberal future. But if Britain blocks an agreement on a new treaty, its voice in future negotiations – such as those on the budget and farm policy – will count for less. An EU riven by internal conflict would become more introspective and less able to forge coherent policies on climate change, Russia, the Middle East and much else.

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• Published May 14, 2007

European Union Jack: the UK’s leadership in the EU

Author: Business For New Europe

The current European Commission in its approach and policies is the most aligned with the UK’s thinking since the UK joined the European Communities in 1973. On Europe Day in 2007, the 50^th anniversary of the EU, the UK should celebrate the influence that it has exerted over the EU, and it should continue to be ambitious to do this.

Business for New Europe argues that, over the past 25 years, the UK has led the way on issues such as:

The development of the single market, championed by Margaret Thatcher in the mid-1980s

Enlargement of the Union to 27 member states

Services liberalisation championed by Tony Blair

Regulatory reform

And most recently action on climate change and energy

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• Published May 9, 2007

Berlin Declaration for Business

Author: Business For New Europe

The European Commission, President Jose Manuel Barroso has called for a Berlin Declaration to mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, which established what is now the European Union.

As part of the EU since 1973, the UK economy has benefited enormously from the Single Market, and the UK’s business sector has taken advantage of new economic opportunities.

The expansion of the EU to Eastern Europe has brought further economic opportunities, along with the extension of democracy and the rule of law to previously Communist states.

With 50 years of economic success behind it, Europe must address the contemporary economic challenges, which includes a shift towards the service sector and the rising importance of innovation.

Europe faces growing competition from markets such as China and India, and must be equipped to deal with this.

The EU must continue with its agenda for change to fully capitalise on the economic situation of today. This agenda includes strengthening the Single Market, embracing better regulation, bolstering the Services Directive and maintaining the battle against economic nationalism.

It is time for the European Union to return to its central mission, of promoting prosperity and opportunity. On order to achieve this, it should be guided by the following principles: openness, leadership, competition, fairness, accountability and devolution.

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• Published March 14, 2007

A Europe we can do business wtith, 2nd Edition (BNE Pamphlet)

Author: Business For New Europe

Contributions from 50 major business leaders to celebrate 50 years of the EU

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• Published March 14, 2007

Europe means Business

Author: Business For New Europe

With the publication of “Europe Means Business”, we are delighted to bring together a number of distinguished business leaders and representatives to reflect on a number of topics, focusing on how business can meet the business and policy challenges of the twenty first century. In their contributions, some have focused on the bilateral relationship between the UK and Germany, some on the policy agenda facing the European Union and others on the areas that business needs to focus on in the modern global economy. They discuss an eclectic range of topics, encompassing the importance of innovation for European business, the EU’s better regulation agenda and the significance of climate change. What underpins all the contributions is a commitment to British-German relations and a feeling that the business communities from both countries can and should shape the debate about the future of Europe.

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• Published March 14, 2007

A Europe we can do business wtith (BNE Pamphlet)

Author: Business For New Europe

The views contained in our pamphlet are not uncritical. There are significant concerns about regulation, the different interpretation of EU laws, gold platting in member states, measures that have curtailed innovation and a concern that enterprise still lags the US. These concerns, however, are made by industrialists who wish to see the pace of reform accelerate because they want the European Union to succeed.

“A Europe we can do business with” contains a series of articles from distinguished business leaders in the UK. They often draw on their own business and sectoral experience in their writings. They come from many areas of the economy which are affected by the EU’s policies: from banking, airlines and telecoms to manufacturing, consultancy and healthcare

The direction of travel is clear. Britain must engage in Europe to fight for the liberal agenda which is growing stronger by the day. We should be more determined, more involved and more optimistic.

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• Published November 14, 2006

The Case for Free Movement in Europe

Author: Business For New Europe

Business for New Europe (http://www.bnegroup.org), the UK's leading voice for business on Europe, believes that opening the UK’s labour market to workers from Bulgaria and Romania is the right decision for our economy. This briefing explains why in ten key points

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• Published September 26, 2006

The Changing Character of Brussels: Charting the UK’s Influence

Author: Business For New Europe

When French President Jacques Chirac walked out of a meeting in Brussels in protest at the use of English by a compatriot, Ernest-Antoine Seillière (President of the employers' association UNICE) in March 2006, it symbolised a wider trend.

Observers of the European scene have long identified a shift towards an “Anglo-Saxon” approach, not only in terms of policy but also in terms of working culture and personnel. This report applies an analytical and empirical lens to this phenomenon.

The report examines the UK’s representation and influence in the EU, with a particular focus on the European Commission and the European Parliament.

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• Published September 15, 2006