Brussels, 17 December 2009 BUSINESSEUROPE Leander van Laerhoven DG Enlargement : Strategies for Youth Employment Study Tour December

General Introduction: Members and structure 2 Advisory and Support Group Members BUSINESSEUROPE is the voice of business in Europe and represents around 20 million enterprises

3 7 Policy Committees

Messages to the European Commission Fixing the financial system and restoring credit flows Implementing reforms to attract investment and innovation Developing a viable exit strategy to excessive public deficits Boosting skills and human capital for the recovery Bolstering open trade and fighting protectionism Ensuring global commitments to fight climate change 4

International issues EU Trade Negotiations (2010) WTO – DOHA Round : Technical phase of negotiations FTAs –Korea conclusion/signing (Jan or Feb – full ratification ~May) –Canada : mid-term review (April) –Libya –India Cross-cutting issues –Trade defence –Customs –Market Access 5

International issues Bilateral Political & Business Summits US : Madrid Summit (April-May 2010) Japan: Tokyo Summit (April-May 2010) Mexico: Madrid Summit (May 2010) Russia: Moscow Summit (no business summit planned) Euro-Med Business Days (tbc) 6

Pre Accession Funds / Enlargement BUSINESSEUROPE has successfully run 2 projects using pre-accession funds from DG Enlargement Under BSP II and BSP III, BUSINESSEUROPE organised BOSMIP I and II. 7

BOSMIP BUSINESSEUROPE-BOSMIP (Business Organisations as Single Market Integration Players) is a seminar programme financially supported by the European Commission and managed by BUSINESSEUROPE. 8

BOSMIP II BUSINESSEUROPE-BOSMIP II brings together business organisations from 23 countries. Operational period: 13 October June BUSINESSEUROPE-BOSMIP II strengthens horizontal business federations in the new Member States and new EU members and acceding countries from Eastern Europe: Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Turkey. Know-how and experience about the efficient implementation of the acquis communautaire is transferred to business federations through partnership with EU-25 federation. 9

The aims and objectives of BOSMIP II Familiarising business and employers’ federations in target countries and their members (companies, branches, regional and local organisations and FEBIs) with relevant parts of the acquis communautaire and transferring experiences and good practice about its efficient application, contributing to a smoother integration of the single market. Enhancing the capacities of these federations to support the effective implementation of the acquis communautaire at company, sector and local level. Reinforcing the capacity of the business and employers’ organisations to optimally advocate the interests of their members and to deliver (more) adequate services to member companies. 10

BOSMIP II Schedule T IME S CHEDULE 2008 D ATE /D EADLINE A CTIVITY L OCATION ( CITY )I MPLEMENTING B ODY 22 JanuarySteering CommitteePMU 22 JanuaryPreparatory Meeting 1 – Structural InstrumentsPMU 26 FebruaryPreparatory Meeting 2 – Competition & TaxationPMU MarchSeminar Structural InstrumentsBIA MarchSeminar Structural InstrumentsACPR 26 MarchPreparatory Meeting 3 – EnvironmentPMU AprilSeminar 3 - CompetitionTISK/TUSIAD 15 AprilPreparatory Meeting 4 – H&S & EnvironmentPMU 11

BOSMIP II Schedule AprilSeminar 4 – Competition and TaxationHUP 15 MayPreparatory Meeting 5 – Transport & EnergyPMU MaySeminar 5 – EnvironmentACPR 4-5 JuneSeminar 6 – EnvironmentAlbenaBIA 17 JunePreparatory Meeting 6 – Health & Safety (For & )PMU JuneSeminar 7 – Health & Safety + EnvironmentTISK/TUSIAD 1 JulyPreparatory Meeting 7 – Customer RelationsPMU 7-8 JulySeminar 8 – Health & Safety + EnvironmentHUP 12

BOSMIP II Schedule 2-3 OctoberSeminar 9 – Customer RelationsHUP OctoberSeminar 10 – Transport & EnergyBIA 6-7 NovemberSeminar 11 – Transport & EnergyACPR NovemberSeminar 12 – Transport & EnergyTISK/TUSIAD 3-4 DecemberSeminar 13 Bulgaria– Health & SafetyBIA 9-10 DecemberSeminar 14 –Health & SafetyACPR T IME S CHEDULE 2009 D ATE /D EADLINE A CTIVITY L OCATION ( CITY )I MPLEMENTING B ODY 4-5 MarchSeminar 15 Turkey – Health and SafetyBursaTISK 1-2 AprilSeminar 16 Bulgaria – Energy and EnvironmentRadnevoBIA AprilSeminar 17 Croatia – Health & Safety and Labour LawSplitHUP 7-8 MaySeminar 18 Romania – Sustainable DevelopmentACPR 23 JuneSteering Committee 2BrusselsPMU JuneClosing BSP IIISplitEuropean Commission 13

BOSMIP III – Western Balkans BOSMIP III – 16 months (Dec 2009 – April 2011) - 9 workshops Western Balkan Partners Albania - BiznesAlbania Bosnia-Herzegovina - UPFBih Croatia - HUP Kosovo - KPK Macedonia - CERM Montenegro - UPCG Serbia - UPS (+ Turkey – TISK and TUSIAD) 14

BOSMIP III Topics Environment covers the integration of environmental protection into other Community policies, preventive action; food safety and inspection; the polluter pays principle; sustainable development, fighting environmental damage at source and shared responsibility. The legislation ranges from horizontal legislation, water and air pollution, management of waste and chemicals, biotechnology to nature protection. Energy covers the area of market access (liberalisation of energy markets), energy infrastructure, Trans-European energy networks, energy efficiency and liberalisation, nuclear energy and safety (closure of power stations), renewables, climate change policies etc. Health & Safety covers information and consultation on health and safety at work. ISO Certification, Risk assessment in Health and Safety, use of protective equipment, occupational diseases, etc. Economic Development covers long-life learning, public-private partnerships (PPP), vocational training, economic growth strategies, labour market flexibility, social dialogue, post-crisis recovery plans, employment strategy and consumer protection. 15

BUSINESSEUROPE and Western Balkans Increase the capacity of the employers federations in the Western Balkans Create more awareness of the role of employers federations and the importance of the EU (both pre-accession and post-accession) Facilitate EU acquis communautaire streamlining for businesses BUSINESSEUROPE membership: Observer member (Montenegro - UPCG), Associate member (Croatia - HUP), Full member (Slovenia - ZDS) 16

Thank you very much for your attention Leander van Laerhoven Adviser – International Relations Department 17