Europe Unlocked

As the Europe Unlocked campaign comes to its conclusion, we welcome the new European Commission’s focus on competitiveness for the new EU mandate. If Europe is to make good on Mr. Draghi’s report, we need a whole economy approach that enables all European businesses to flourish. Read our full article on the work that must be done to unlock European competitiveness 👇

📊 Throughout 2024 we’ve partnered with some of Europe’s leading thought leaders to propose solutions for the challenges facing Europe. ✅ Empowering the Single Market: A 10 Point Plan to Revive and Deepen It ✅ Trading Up: An EU Trade Policy for Better Market Access and Resilient Sourcing ✅ Better Regulation in Europe: An Action Plan for the Next Commission ✅ Helping Europe’s Digital Economy take off: An Agenda for the next Commission ✅Green and Enviable: How to Deliver Net Zero and a More Competitive EU ✅ Skills for Tomorrow: Addressing Labour Shortages and Boosting Competitiveness in the EU These papers contain actionable recommendations, which if followed will unlock European growth and prosperity. CEPS (Centre for European Policy Studies), European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE),  Centre for European Reform, European Policy Centre Explore them here:  https://lnkd.in/e4SqZ-rb

🔓 In 2024 we’ve taken Europe Unlocked on the road with roundtable events in Prague, Rome, and Madrid. These discussions brought together policymakers and business leaders from across Europe to address competitiveness and the policy choices necessary for a prosperous future. Only an open and market driven approach will achieve this.

Last week, Europe Unlocked was proudly represented by Carolina Brånby, Director for Digital Policy at the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, at The Lisbon Council’s roundtable, “Carpe Diem: How to Ensure European Companies Grasp the AI Opportunity.” The event brought together industry and policy leaders to discuss how AI can empower European businesses while balancing innovation with safety. The discussion included: 📊 Bottlenecks and growth opportunities in AI adoption ⚖️ Balancing innovation with safety 🌐 The importance of open markets and global standards AI is central to Europe’s competitive future—let’s seize the opportunity and lead the way. More on the event:  https://lnkd.in/d7UtmU7z A big thank you to the The Lisbon Council for organising such a great event, as well as the speakers who contributed to a thought provoking discussion David Abecassis, Sandro Gozi, Victoria de Posson, Liviu Stirbat, Hugo WEBER, Leena Whittaker and Katinka Clausdatter Worsøe.

Last week, we had the privilege of presenting our Call to Action for a more competitive Europe. To close the innovation gap and deliver on Mr. Draghi's vision, Europe must create the right conditions for businesses to invest, innovate, and thrive—driven by open markets and market-led economic development. We were delighted to engage with EU policymakers who share our commitment to building a prosperous, competitive Europe. 🔓 Rolf Höijer, Marita Ljunggren, Jeanette Lund, Kristin Pålsson, Stefano Grassi, Luís Viegas Cardoso, Alena MASTANTUONO, Jana Hartman Radová, Katrina Zarina, Stefan Moritz, Fredrik Sjögren, Björn Wedin, Mary Veronica TOVSAK PLETERSKI, Eike Radszuhn, Tuomas Nousiainen, Tuomas Kaivola, Salim Medghoul, Ewa Malz, Outi Slotboom, Jakub Boratynski.

Is artificial intelligence the key to Europe's competitive edge? By deep-diving into the latest insights on how artificial intelligence (AI) can empower European businesses, The Lisbon Council convened “Carpe Diem: How to Ensure European Companies Grasp the AI Opportunity,” a high-level roundtable to discuss how Europe can strengthen its global position by accelerating AI adoption and designing a regulatory framework that balances safety with #innovation. David Abecassis, partner at Analysys Mason, presented compelling data on how companies use #AI and what are the bottlenecks, highlighting opportunities for growth through AI that is accessible, affordable and secure. Sandro Gozi, member of the European Parliament and secretary general of the European Democratic Party, emphasised the importance of simplified rules, international standards, cross-sector collaboration and a European data market to pave the way for the successful and responsible deployment of AI. Equally thought-provoking contributions came from Carolina Brånby, director for digital policy, Confederation of Swedish Enterprise and representative of the Europe Unlocked initiative; Victoria de Posson, secretary general, European Tech Alliance; Liviu Stirbat, head of unit, directorate general for research and development, European Commission; Hugo WEBER, vice-president for corporate affairs and impact, Mirakl; Leena Whittaker, director for competitiveness, EuroCommerce; and Katinka Clausdatter Worsøe, digital affairs attaché, Permanent Representation of Denmark to the European Union. Is Europe ready to carpe diem? More on the high-level roundtable at https://lnkd.in/d7UtmU7z

Thank you to The Lisbon Council for hosting this important and engaging dialogue on AI and competitiveness, covering the latest insights on how AI can enable European businesses to innovate and increase productivity.   The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise's Director of Digital Policy Carolina Brånby shares her views on how compliance is hindering AI innovation as the EU's regulatory maze grows more complex. Read more about the high-level roundtable here 👇https://lnkd.in/d7UtmU7z   #Compliance #ArtificialIntelligence #EuropeUnlocked

Great to be featured in Dagens Industri’s latest piece on the need to pivot to a more radical agenda to strengthen European competitiveness, drawing on insights from our Call to Action report. Read the full piece here: https://lnkd.in/dN9sjkQw

Great to be featured in the Financial Times responding to Javier Espinoza’s recent piece on Europe’s need for growth champions. Red tape is stifling European innovation, causing businesses to struggle to leverage the Single Market’s potential. Read the full piece here 👇 https://lnkd.in/e-t-j7i6

President Ursula von der Leyen’s announcement of a Competitiveness Compass signals a strong sense of purpose and urgency, and positions competitiveness at the heart of the new European Commission’s policy platform. Now the success of the initiative hinges on empowering businesses to adapt, innovate and grow. Read our full response 👇