SOCIAL PARTNERS : BUSINESSEUROPE OUTLINES ITS PRIORITIES TO BUDAPEST.

BusinessEurope is counting on Hungary during its term at the EU helm to make sure that "competitiveness proofing" becomes a reality this half-year. The principle of such a test, introduced by the European Commission in its flagship initiative for An industrial policy for the globalisation era', will be used to assess the impact of any proposal (in all sectors) on competitiveness. The European employers' organisation, in a letter dated 20 January and addressed to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, suggests that competitiveness proofing should start with "the climate and energy policy measures to be discussed in the coming months".

On behalf of its 40 member federations, BusinessEurope encourages the Presidency to tackle four key areas to stimulate economic growth and job creation. In addition to industry, energy and climate policy, these include growth and jobs; the single market, SMEs and innovation; and international relations and economic diplomacy.

BusinessEurope President Jurgen Thumann urges Budapest to see to it that employment guidelines adopted by member states this semester contain structural reforms to improve labour market flexibility and increase the cost-effectiveness of activation policies.

On economic policy, BusinessEurope notes the...