Ladies and gentlemen, as you will have gathered, the Commission is today presenting its economic doctrine for the next five years. It is simple, and can be summed up in three words: competitiveness, competitiveness, competitiveness.
From this doctrine stems a roadmap that consists of simplifying, investing and accelerating our economic priorities.
Europe now has indeed a plan, and it's a business plan!
The idea is to put competitiveness at the heart of every euro we invest. In every initiative we propose, in full respect of our European model.
- First point: we're simplifying.
In spirit, it's the simplification shock that I've already mentioned.
Why a shock? Firstly, because we are looking at all European regulations, not just the most recent ones. Secondly, because we are looking at a wide range of aspects, including the quantity and frequency of reporting, the size of the companies concerned, administrative procedures, consistency between all the texts, and the possibility of switching to digital format. We will be presenting the first simplification omnibus in the next few weeks.
At the end of 2025/beginning of 2026, we will also present a 28th regime, which will achieve what thousands of European companies have been calling for: a single regime. Just one form to fill in, instead of 27.
Generally speaking, this Commission is convinced that the integration of the single market offers tremendous potential for simplification. One European standard replaces 27 other standards. 1 in, 27 out.
- Secondly: investment.
Europe must drastically increase the funding and liquidity that our creators - by which I mean innovation - and our industry - by which I mean production - need.
On this last point, private capital is a lever. We will be proposing the creation of new European savings products and investment-friendly legislation.
On the EU side, we will be creating a competitiveness fund in the next multiannual budget. This fund should enable every euro of public money to free up more private investment.
What's more, if we add up the share of the budget that the Member States invest in their competitiveness and that of the European budget, we already have a very powerful strike force. But if we act in isolation, we lose enormously in effectiveness.
That's why, in addition to providing new funding, the Compass proposes a new tool for coordinating competitiveness policies. It should enable us to align our efforts at European level, particularly in terms of innovation. We need to be able to pull in the same direction and focus on the same strategic sectors.
There is an alignment. For the first time, all member states asks for the implementation of the Draghi report, that heavily inspired us in the drafting of this compass. It is a possibly for us to have a real alignment on industrial and competitiveness policies.
In the same spirit, we want to coordinate strategies and investments in raw materials, for example by group purchasing at European level, as we have done successfully in the past with vaccines and gas.
- Third and last point: we are speeding up.
This systemic effort is accompanied by sectoral plans. The principle is simple: increase dramatically our efforts in strategic sectors. The traditional sectors, of course, which underpin pillars of our economy - chemicals, steel and automotive, which will benefit from the strategic dialogue launched by the President. These sectors are of crucial socio-economic importance to our regions. They are the pillars of our resilience, and of our transition to clean technologies. That's why all these sectors will have a plan by 2025.
Our competitiveness also depends on our ability to foster the emergence and growth of the sectors of the future in Europe. I'm talking about clean tech, European biotech, artificial intelligence - to name but a few. They too will have their own plan for 2025 with their particularities that need to be taken into account.
The horizontal strategy is important but you need also vertical initiatives to take into account the sectors with very specific particularities.
The idea is not to create new regulations for the sake of regulation or restrict innovation. On the contrary, it's more a question of 'business acts' that will support sectors in their transition and growth needs. At a time when some are reneging on their commitment, Europe can and must become the continent of cutting-edge technologies. In these fields, we have the best scientists, innovative designers and the most highly qualified employees in the world.
The meeting of these two ambitions - to develop the traditional sectors on the one hand, and the new clean technologies on the other - will be the subject of the Clean Industrial Agenda, which we will also be presenting in the coming weeks.
So much for the overview of this compass. I'd like to say a few final words before opening the floor to your questions.
This initiative marks a change of mindset for Europe and Europeans. We are staying on our objective: creating a European model that is low-carbon, social and respectful of our values. I think that both are possible with competitiveness.
This set course should enable us to achieve a new surge of success.
And our success will be measured by 4 ambitions:
- To open more factories than we close;
- Produce more in Europe ('made in Europe');
- Increase employment in Europe
- And increase the number of European unicorns.
This is possible because we have a market of 450 millions of consumers, that gives us margin and potential of growth internally.
Thank you, and I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have.
