Business outlook in EU improving but Single Market must be completed, research suggests

Brussels, 19 November 2015 – The business environment in the EU is gradually improving and attitudes towards innovation and entrepreneurship are increasingly positive, new research suggests. To further boost competitiveness and growth, policymakers in Europe should prioritise the integration of the Single Market and enact policies that support innovation and entrepreneurship across the EU.

The AmCham EU Agenda for Action 2015 Scorecard, which was launched on Tuesday, 17 November 2015 in Brussels and measures the economic performance of Europe against AmCham EU’s five key action areas for economic growth, showed its highest ever score since the Scorecard began. Progress is measured by improvements in building a more skilled workforce, encouraging innovation and adapting to the pace of a digital, globalised world. However, there are still skills and technology gaps in many EU countries and investment in Europe has still not reached pre-crisis levels, suggesting that further policy integration in Brussels is needed.

Christian Morales, Chair of the AmCham EU Executive Council, stated, ‘The findings demonstrate that the European economy is showing signs of progress and is a more attractive place to invest than in previous years. Nevertheless, there is much more work to be done. It is essential that the EU takes concrete steps to build a more competitive economic environment for businesses of all sizes. Completion of the EU Single Market has to be a priority.’