A stronger economy, social justice and jobs

12.1) Developing a clear vision for the European economy and playing to Europe's strengths, quality and diversity while taking into account of economic and other differences between Member States, and promoting cooperation and competition between businesses; (NL 1 & 2)

12.2) Measure: Consolidating what has been done in terms of the single currency and the interconnection of payment systems and telecommunications.

12.3) Reducing the standardisation of products and recognising local and regional cultural and production peculiarities (respect for production traditions); (IT 2.2)

12.4) Enhancing upward social and economic convergence in the Single Market, by completing existing initiatives, such as the Banking Union and the Capital Markets Union, and implementing a forward- looking reform of our Economic and Monetary Union; (discussions)

12.5) Promoting policies for a strong industrial base and innovation in key enabling technologies, and a forward-looking climate policy coupled with industrial competitiveness with a strong social dimension, based on social dialogue and well-functioning industrial relations; (discussions)

12.6) Giving special attention in all new initiatives to SMEs, the backbone of our economy. The "Think Small First" principle must be respected in all EU's legislative proposals and a SME test should be reinforced in the Commission's impact assessment in accordance with clear principles while fully respecting social an environmental standards and consumer rights; (discussions)

12.7) Ensuring the participation of SMEs in funding applications, tenders and networks with as little administrative effort as possible. Access to finance for SMEs with high-risk innovation projects should be further developed by entities such as the European Innovation Council and the European Investment Bank; (discussions)

12.8) Creating a better framework for investments in R&I aimed at a more sustainable and biodiverse business models. (ECP 10, 11 & 14) Focusing on technology and innovation as drivers of growth; (IT 1.3)

12.9) Promoting collective economic performance through autonomous, competitive industry; (FR3)

12.10) Identifying and developing strategic sectors, including space, robotics and AI; (FR 3 & 9)

12.11) Investing in an economy based on tourism and culture, including the many small destinations in Europe; (IT 1.2)

12.12) Addressing the security of supply by diversifying input sources/raw materials and increasing themanufacture of key goods in Europe, such as health, food, energy, defence and transport; (FR 9, LT 1, IT 1.4)

12.13) Promoting the digitalisation of European businesses, for instance through a specific scoreboard allowing businesses to compare 55 their degree of digitalisation, with the overall aim of increasing competitiveness; (DE 2.1)

12.14) Promoting digital cohesion to contribute to economic, social and territorial cohesion as defined in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; (discussions)

12.15) Strengthening cross-border cooperation in order to enhance cohesion and resilience within and beyond regions, by fostering the European Cross Border Mechanism and similar tools; (discussions)

12.16) Enhancing and promoting the possibilities for cross-border training in order to upskill the European workforce and increase competitiveness, while at the same time boosting citizens' economic literacy; (DE 2.2, LT7). Promoting exchanges between workers in Europe through a European Job Centre. (IT 6.1) Encouraging young people to study science subjects; (IT 1.5)

12.17) Reducing, where non-essential, bureaucracy (permits, certifications); (IT 2.1)

12.18) Combating counterfeiting and unfair competition; (IT 2.4)

12.19) Ensuring greater participation of start ups and SMEs in innovation projects as this increases their innovative strength, competitiveness and networking. (online platform, discussions)

12.20) Consolidating and protecting the Single Market should remain a priority; measures and initiatives at EU and national level should not be detrimental to the Single Market and should contribute to the free flow of people, goods, services, and capital; (discussions)

12.21) New EU policy initiatives should undergo a "competitiveness check" to analyse their impact on companies and their business environment (cost of doing business, capacity to innovate, international competitiveness, level playing field, etc). Such check shall be in accordance with, the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals, including gender equality, and shall not undermine the protection of human, social and workers' rights nor environmental and consumer protection standards. To this effect, we also propose the establishment of a European Advisory Competitiveness Body which should monitor how the competitiveness check is performed and in particular assess the cumulative impact of legislation, as well as put forward proposals to improve the right framework conditions for competitiveness of EU companies. Such body should include organised civil society and the social partners in its governance; (discussions)

* This measure has been identified as needing Treaty change for full implementation.

There are currently no implementing initiatives that address this particular CoFE measure.