MEDPOL: SGI Europe calls for an ambitious framework to prevent divergence and relaunch the EU project on solid foundations

On Monday 13 March 2023, Valeria Ronzitti, SGI Europe General Secretary, addressed the Macro-Economic Dialogue at Political Level (MEDPOL). The meeting brought together, amongst others, Paschal Donohoe, Eurogroup President, Valdis Dombrovskis, European Commission Executive Vice-President, Elisabeth Svantesson, Minister for Finance, Luis de Guindos, ECB Vice-President, and social partners, with a focus on the EU productivity and competitiveness.

During the meeting, Valeria Ronzitti, SGI Europe General Secretary, said:

“Efficient public investments are needed and should not jeopardise the level playing field. The tools of the Single Market also need to become more agile, predictable and adapted to today’s realities. The Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework is a cultural shift for single market instruments like state aid and public procurement, moving them away from ‘enforcement of fair competition’ towards ‘active policy tools’. They should channel productive investments to benefit competitiveness and sustainability in the green and digital transition.”

“To boost investment, the EU must establish an ambitious economic governance framework. This framework should prevent further divergence and lay the ground for a relaunch of the EU project on solid and long-lasting foundations. 2023 must be the year to agree on new fiscal rules, with strengthened ownership by Member States, including local and regional levels, and promoting reforms and investments in energy security, digitisation and the green transformation.”

“The global tensions and challenges reemphasise the need to assess what Member States need to improve, but also what is best done and managed at EU level, what is the “EU added value” and what is the “cost of non-Europe”. EU public goods in fields such as healthcare, energy and critical infrastructure will be crucial to give the EU a strong backbone for competitiveness and productivity.”

(Copyright: European Union)