“Ms von der Leyen, it’s five minutes to midnight”

On the eve of the last political working year of this Commission, MEPs Geert Bourgeois and Johan Van Overtveldt are deeply concerned about the state of European Competitiveness The extent to which companies in one country can compete with similar companies in another country. A law came into force in Belgium in 1996 to monitor competitiveness. This stipulates that Belgian salaries may not evolve faster than the average of those in the three neighbouring countries. The Central Economic Council (CEC) performs an annual measurement to see if the objectives have been obtained. competitiveness . They call on Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to change course and make every effort possible. “It is high time to ensure our future prosperity. The European Commission has done too little over the past four years to maintain and strengthen it,” both men say.

Geert Bourgeois, head of the N-VA delegation in the European Parliament: “Disappointing growth rates, high Inflation The increase in the general price level. The original meaning (literally “to blow up”) is monetary inflation, which means that the amount of money increases. Today, inflation primarily refers to price inflation. This means an implicit monetary depreciation. This causes the purchasing power to drop. inflation , geopolitical tensions, protectionist trends, etc. Our European prosperity is under increasing pressure. In these geopolitically unstable times, the EU needs to strengthen its ‘core’ even more so that it can cope better with a blow from the outside. Staying competitive is crucial for open economies such as that in Flanders, but I have not seen an agenda for European competitiveness since the start of this Commission. I sincerely hope Commission President von der Leyen will still come up with a plan in her final months. It really is five minutes to midnight now.”

Johan Van Overtveldt, Chairman of the Budget Committee in the European Parliament: “The European Union must ensure stability across policy areas ranging from geopolitical considerations to protecting purchasing power to attracting and retaining investments. The EU has not been successful enough in this. What’s more, it has reinforced the uncertain context by imposing unattainable objectives, such as with the Green Deal. Or by getting bogged down in dogmas and taboos, with the result that nuclear power, for example, is not given the place it deserves in a sustainable and robust energy mix.”

They include the following five priorities:

1. Stop the regulatory burden

The regulatory burden on our entrepreneurs and citizens must urgently be reduced. I call for the Juncker Commission’s “one in, one out” principle to be adhered to again. Let each new rule be made in tandem with the deletion of an old one, thereby giving more oxygen and confidence to our citizens and entrepreneurs.

2. Faster permit procedures

Every investment file, public and private, faces lengthy procedures, objections and disputes. Permit procedures must be faster and simpler and not only for investments under the Green Deal.

3. An EU budget for the 21st century

Two-thirds of the European budget still goes to cohesion and agriculture. The latter is without benefit to the farmer. The focus must be on research and development, innovative investments and cross-border infrastructure. We need a budget for the 21st century.

“Moreover, geopolitical developments and the aftermath of the health and energy crises have drastically changed the budgetary context. The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) is no longer sufficient to meet all these current and future challenges and urgently needs revision. I call on the Commission and the Council not to delay; there is no time to lose. Parliament is ready to get to work,” says Johan Van Overtveldt.

4. Complete, strengthen and safeguard the internal market

We are celebrating 30 years of the internal market this year. It has produced 56 million jobs and 9% growth. Completion of the market (energy, capital, transport and digital) would generate a further 12% growth of GDP The gross domestic product (GDP) is the total monetary value of all goods and services produced within a country, both by companies and the government. This term is usually used as a benchmark for a country’s prosperity. This is why the N-VA closely follows the evolution of the Belgian GDP. GDP .

Moreover, the completion of the internal market must go hand in hand with better enforcement. The free movement of people and goods must be guaranteed. The actual protectionism of large Member States can have no place in an internal market. This Commission is ignoring this.

To protect precisely that level playing field, it is crucial that the Commission scales back the relaxation of state aid rules. Small Member States and federal states such as Flanders are already experiencing the consequences of this now: new, large investments are now mainly being made in Germany and France.

5. Conclude more trade agreements

This Commission’s policy on trade agreements is disappointing. So far, only that with Vietnam has been ratified. We urgently need more trade agreements, among other reasons, to diversify our supply lines.

“I also call for more pragmatism. It is becoming increasingly important to also consider the geopolitical, strategic importance when concluding partnerships, instead of unilaterally overloading the cart with all kinds of conditions,” concludes Geert Bourgeois, also INTA coordinator for ECR The N-VA is a member of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), a conservative, eurorealistic parliamentary group in the European Parliament. The N-VA shares their realistic view of the European project and also advocates for the correct and intensive application of the subsidiarity principle. For example, we must not be afraid to ask ourselves if it would be better to leave certain European initiatives to the Member States. The N-VA also identifies with the emphases that the ECR places on the social-economic issues. Since the 2014 elections, the ECR has become the third largest parliamentary group in the European Parliament. ECR .