The EU to Focus on Economic Growth through Innovation Leadership

The EU must aim at leadership in the global innovation race by reducing regulatory burdens, accelerating the clean transition, and pursuing new trade partnerships with unmatched vigour. Support for Ukraine and investments in security must be scaled up to an entirely new level.

Our objectives

1. Economy and Competitiveness

  • The Single Market must support open and market-driven competition among companies more effectively. This requires harmonised implementation of EU legislation and improved enforcement.
  • Regulatory impacts on competitiveness should be carefully assessed, while administrative burden and reporting obligations for businesses should be reduced systematically and with careful assessment.
  • EU funding should prioritise competitiveness, the clean transition, and security.
  • We should aim at ending state aid competition in favour of EU-level investment financing based on European added value.
  • Taxation must remain competitive and predictable.

Position papers:
Next Multiannual Financial Framework MFF
Tax legislation
VAT in the Digital Age Legislation
Research, Development and Innovation (RDI)
Transport infrastructure

2. Clean and Digital Growth

  • Europe needs ambitious climate, energy, and environmental policies that simultaneously enhance the competitiveness of businesses and high technological expertise in the clean economy.
  • Regulations should adhere to principles of technology neutrality and cost efficiency.
  • New market-driven incentives are required to safeguard biodiversity.
  • Permitting procedures for clean transition investments should be streamlined further.
  • Research, development, and innovation (RDI) funding must increase at both national and EU levels to ensure continuity in business-driven RDI activities.

Position papers
Energy and Climate Policy
Apply AI strategy
Data strategy
Competition in E-Commerce
Digital Product Passport
Standard Essential Patents

3. Trade Relations and Global Position

  • The EU needs a more proactive trade policy to establish new partnerships and address harmful dependencies.
  • Ensuring access to critical raw materials and the resilience of supply chains is vital.
  • Defence industries should be strengthened through new financing and closer cooperation.
  • The EU must be able to provide continuous support for Ukraine in war efforts, reconstruction, and the EU membership process.

Position papers
Trade policy
Support for Ukraine

4. Labour Markets and Access to Talent

  • It is essential to have a European labour market that promotes growth and well-being and preserves the functionality of the Nordic labour market model.
  • The availability of talented workforce should improve through labour-related migration policies and increased mobility within the EU.
  • Internal market barriers in the service sector should be removed, and mutual recognition of professional qualifications simplified.

Position papers
Vocational Education and Training Strategy

Further information

Lotta Nymann-Lindegren

Director

+358 40 509 6527

EU-director

Assistant

Linda Jerjomin

Päivi Wood

Chief Policy Adviser

+358 50 478 3990

EU

Ilari Kallio

Head of Brussels office

+32 40 139 6912

EU EK Brussels office

Oona Juonala

Adviser

+32 492 98 87 22

EU EK Brussels office

Siiri Valkama

Senior Adviser

+32 494 54 92 49

EU EK Brussels office: entrepreneurship, industrial and trade policy, skills and RDI, transport and logistics

Karoliina Rasi

Senior Adviser

+32 476 349 263

EU EK Brussels office: energy, climate and environment policy, circular and bioeconomy, corporate sustainability