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The next decade will be critical in Europe’s economic history, and the incoming European Parliament and European Commission will face many challenges. Supporting a recovery that delivers jobs and prosperity will be vital. Beyond this we, as Europeans, must equip workers and companies with the skills, resources, and regulatory environment to allow them to respond effectively to the pressures of globalisation. Only by investing in our capacity to produce high-value goods and services can we hope to sustain the standard of living and public services that our citizens expect and deserve.
This publication sets out key areas where EU action can have the greatest impact to ensure EU businesses can compete in a global marketplace, and highlights the importance of an integrated approach to EU industrial policy and the future of the single market.
By working in partnership with other Member States and EU institutions, together we can strengthen the building blocks of our common economic future.
The EU Advisory Group to BIS has published its first major communication. The Group consists of businesses, business organisations, the TUC, academics and experts and advises BIS on high level EU policy. This paper has been submitted to BIS specifically to inform policy work on UK priorities for EU economic policy under the new European Commission and European Parliament.
The Group's paper sets out recommendations in areas which it believes are vital for future economic policy in the European Union over the duration of the new European Commission and new European Parliament. To view the paper and to obtain further information on the Group, please use the link below:
"The Government is carrying out a major review into the cost of international trade regulation. It intends to prepare an action plan on what could be done to reduce the compliance burden that UK businesses face when they trade internationally." The review, announced in the November 2008 Pre-Budget Report, is a major political commitment.
Former Trade policy minister, Gareth Thomas, said, "International trade is vital not just for the global economy but for our domestic prosperity. To help UK firms thrive in the competitive global marketplace we want it to be as simple as possible for them to comply with trade rules."
The Government has asked its partner trade facilitation body SITPRO to carry out the consultation.
In order to view and contribute to the consultation please visit: http://www.sitpro.org.uk/regreview/consultation.html
BIS has launched a new publication outlining the services that it provides to UK firms to help them trade with other countries. It provides information on where firms can access general advice as well as where they can obtain more specific assistance to overcome barriers to international trade.
To view the booklet, please click on the following link :
 | In April the UK will be hosting the G20 summit meeting. Visit the London summit website to find out more and join the discussion. |
Secretary of State for Development, Douglas Alexander, issued this statement from Geneva following yesterday's breakdown of the DDA multilateral trade negotiations (Tuesday 29 July)
“I am deeply disappointed by the failure of these talks to make the progress we had hoped for.
This lost opportunity is bad news for world businesses and consumers, and especially those in the world’s poorest countries.
Here in Geneva UK Ministers have been pushing hard for a deal that is good for development and good for the UK.
We have come close to bridging the gap on key issues like cutting developed country farm subsidies and creating new opportunities for UK business.
Now is a time to pause and consider how to now make the progress we want to see.
Our determination to work for fairer trade rules that deliver for the world’s poorest, the global economy, and British business remains undimmed.”
As part of the EU's Lisbon economic reform process, EU Member States adopted three-year National Reform Programmes in autumn 2005, detailing their agenda for economic reform. Annual progress reports have been published since October 2006. The UK's second NRP was published in September 2008.
For further information, please go to the National Reform Programme page.
To coincide with an event on Europe for key business stakeholders on 14 January 2008, BERR published a pamphlet (Europe: It's your business) that explains why the economic success of Europe is important to the UK and how the EU contributes to European growth, including some of its notable successes to date. In addition, it also looks at some of the prospects for further growth opportunities in the future and the importance of the EU in a global context. To view the pamphlet please click on the link below:
On 10 December the European General Affairs and External Relations Council met and, by Qualified Majority, adopted the Economic Partnership Agreement Regulation. This Regulation formalises the market access offer of 100% duty free quota free market access to the European Union with improved rules of origin for African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries that have signed WTO-compatible agreements.
To date, 38 countries have signed goods-only Economic Partnership Agreements. For further details please use the link below.
The implementation of the Services Directive is well underway. A seminar took place last month to update stakeholders on where we have got to so far, in particular as regards the Point of Single Contact (PSC) . BERR commissioned an exercise in April 2007 to try and capture the requirements for users and contributors to the UK PSC. The report considers issues such as scope, content, charging, outsourcing, language and much more. The full report is available by clicking on this link. Readers are invited to send comments on the report's recommendations or the PSC generally by email to servicesconsultation@berr.gsi.gov.uk. For more details on the Services Directive please see our Economics and Evidence page.
BERR, together with HM Treasury, have issued a report "The Single Market: A vision for the 21st century" to feed into the Commission's current review of the Single Market. The report outlines the challenges that the Single Market faces - globalisation, climate change, demographic change - and the principles that should be followed to ensure that the Single Market continues to deliver for Europe's consumers and businesses. It makes recommendations for specific actions that the EU should take to generate further substantial benefits.
For full details click on our Single Market page.
A new One Stop shop simplifying international trade procedures for UK business was launched in November 2006 on the Businesslink national website. ITSW is a cross government project led by BERR, Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and Department for Environment,Food & Rural Affairs(DEFRA) which is being implemented by Businesslink.
Further details can be found in on the our trade facilitation page.
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