The Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers and European Enterprise Alliance present our analysis on the European Commission’s Digital Simplification package, a central element of the EU’s Better Regulation agenda. The paper explores how the European Union can bring greater clarity and proportionality to its digital rulebook, which encompasses data protection, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and product compliance.

Taking into account the growing overlap between legal instruments and the resulting administrative complexity that often undermines coherence without improving protection. Finally, Simplification should reinforce consistency and transparency.

Read more: The Future of the EU Digital Framework and the Path to Simplification

13.10.2025

Disentangling the Quantum Europe Strategy: From Innovation to Industry

Quantum computing promises to revolutionise sectors such as defence, pharmaceuticals, and finance, with implications that will be felt across Europe. While the European Commission has already taken steps to harness this new technology, the rapid development of the field demands a more comprehensive approach.

In answer to this, the “Quantum Europe Strategy: Quantum Europe in a Changing World” was presented on 2 July 2025. The Strategy outlines the areas being targeted to maximise the potential of quantum technologies while addressing the barriers currently hindering progress. Our report provides a brief overview of how quantum computing works, its real-world implications, and an analysis of the EU-level initiatives meant to support its developments as outlined in the Strategy.

Find more: 13.10.2025.Disentangling the Quantum Europe Strategy: From Innovation to Industry

30/09/2025

European Commission’s Strategy for Research and Technology Infrastructures

In its new communication “A European Strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructures”, the European Commission presents its plans for ensuring the Union can maintain its position as a global leader of innovation. This report outlines the five fields in which this work will be carried out.

1. Increasing infrastructure capacities and mobilising investments

To meet the continuous need for technological development and address the lack of funding that affects European innovators, the Commission proposes:

• Developing new criteria for identifying what infrastructures are of vital importance to European innovation and for assessing their capacities.
• Providing funding for expanding capacities, while also encouraging pooling of funds, particularly in public-private joint investments.
• Establishing a framework for maintaining research infrastructures through the implementation of roadmaps.
• Supporting transnational collaboration, particularly for cloud and AI

2. Improving accessibility of infrastructures

To ensure fairer and wider access to Europe’s advanced infrastructures, the strategy calls for:

• Introducing an integrated “one-stop-shop” scheme that will help researchers access advanced
• Developing pilot schemes that open advanced infrastructures for startups and
• Providing support for transnational access

3. Growing European talent pool

In response to Europe’s skills shortage, the Commission proposes:

• Creating strategies for attracting talent from outside the
• Supporting the training of research infrastructure and technology infrastructure

4.  Simplifying governance

The Commission aims to clarify rules and improve coordination by:

• Establishing a common EU-level framework for coordinating infrastructure
• Strengthening the role of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures as a platform for engaging with relevant stakeholders.

5. Strengthening international cooperation and resilience

Finally, to address the changing geopolitical context, the strategy outlines:

• Enhancing the role of pan-European research infrastructures in science
• Facilitating the integration of candidate, potential candidate, and associated countries into the European Research Area.

May, 2025 

Securing Europe’s Food Future: Balancing Sustainability, Competitiveness, and Resilience in the Agri-Food Sector

Executive Summary

Europe’s agri-food sector stands at a pivotal crossroads, facing intensifying pressure from ambitious environmental regulation, geopolitical instability, labour shortages, and structural investment gaps. While the EU’s sustainability agenda—embodied in the Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy—sets important long-term goals, its implementation risks placing disproportionate burdens on smaller and less-capitalised producers, particularly in Eastern and Southern Europe. At the same time, internal market fragmentation and growing competition from imports produced under lower standards threaten the competitiveness and cohesion of the EU food system. Drawing on the case of Poland, this white paper emphasize the need for a more balanced and pragmatic approach—one that safeguards economic viability while advancing sustainability, strengthens the Single Market through greater regulatory coherence, and prioritises investment in infrastructure and workforce development to build lasting resilience across the agri-food chain.

See the full report: Securing Europe’s Food Future: Balancing Sustainability, Competitiveness, and Resilience in the Agri-Food Sector

What is Next for EU Health Policy?

The European Union (EU) is entering a crucial period for health policy. The 2024-2029 term will shape how the EU responds to ongoing and new health challenges. Aging populations, rising chronic diseases, and mental health concerns are straining healthcare systems while advancements in medical research, digital health, and pharmaceutical innovation are accelerating. At the same time, the lingering effects of past crises, particularly COVID-19, have exposed both strengths and weaknesses in EU health systems—highlighting gaps in preparedness, medicine shortages, and workforce limitations. While coordination between EU institutions and national governments played a key role in crisis response, it also underscored the limits of subsidiarity in health policy.

Moving forward, EU policies must be proactive rather than reactive. Strengthening crisis preparedness, workforce planning, and regulatory flexibility is essential, but this must be balanced with avoiding unnecessary burdens on innovation. Resources are limited, yet investment in infrastructure and healthcare personnel is necessary. Health policy cannot be addressed in isolation—it is deeply linked to economic resilience and technological progress. Medical breakthroughs and AI-driven diagnostics offer potential cost savings and better patient outcomes, but they require stable investment environments, clear regulations, and strong public-private collaboration.

A resilient healthcare system also supports economic growth by improving workforce productivity, lowering long-term costs, and strengthening Europe’s position in global healthcare innovation. This paper examines key challenges and opportunities, focusing on systemic health issues, regulatory frameworks, and resilience. The goal is to outline practical, balanced solutions that support public health while supporting European industries to remain competitive.

See the full report here: What is Next for EU Health Policy?

Report: The Future of EU Customs: Challenges, Opportunities, and Implications

The rapid expansion of e-commerce has fundamentally reshaped global trade, presenting both  opportunities and challenges for customs systems worldwide. In the European Union (EU), cross border online sales have surged, necessitating reforms to modernize the Customs Union and adapt it  to the complexities of the digital economy. This paper examines the pressing need for change in  customs policies, driven by increased parcel volumes, evolving business models, and the rise of e commerce. In 2023, EU customs authorities processed over 2.6 billion imported items, with a  significant portion declared under the H7 regime for low-value goods. The current system, originally  designed for bulk shipments, struggles to ensure compliance with VAT, customs duties, and safety  regulations, leading to revenue losses and the infiltration of non-compliant or counterfeit goods.  However, industry representatives emphasize that revenue losses are also linked to systemic  undervaluation practices, rather than being solely due to the de minimis exemption. According to  European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) investigations, certain sectors, such as textiles and footwear, have  seen systematic undervaluation practices that significantly impact the EU budget. To address these  challenges, the European Commission has proposed a series of reforms, including centralized  clearance, digitalization of customs processes, enhanced risk management, and collaboration with e-commerce platforms. While these measures aim to create a resilient, efficient, and future-proof  Customs Union, business stakeholders stress the importance of risk-based enforcement and improved  data-sharing to ensure compliance without overburdening businesses. They emphasize that reforms  should focus on enhancing customs capacity and modernizing enforcement mechanisms rather than  solely relying on increased compliance obligations for platforms and importers. The proposed changes  will not only affect trade within the EU but will also have implications for EU candidate countries such  as Moldova and Ukraine, which align their customs regulations with EU standards. Ensuring a smooth  transition and regulatory predictability will be key in fostering trade relations between the EU and its  future members. Customs policies may be better supported by the EU, protect income sources, and  encourage fair competition by being in line with the reality of contemporary commerce. However, we  emphasize that reforms should be implemented in a manner that does not disproportionately impact  SMEs or create unintended monopolization within the e-commerce sector.

See the full report: The Future of EU Customs: Challenges, Opportunities, and Implications

14 November 2024, Warsaw

EU digital single market: a catalyst for business growth in the CEE region

The e-commerce sector in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region has experienced dynamic growth in recent years, mainly due to the increasing digitalisation of economies and integration into the European Union’s Single Digital Market (DSM). This integration enables companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to access new markets, which has a positive impact on their competitiveness and cross-border trade opportunities. The Digital Single Market plays a key role in their development, eliminating barriers to online trade and promoting the harmonisation of regulations across the European Union, resulting in a better operating conditions for companies in the CEE region. In this report, we take a broader look at the main aspects of the development of the e-commerce sector and the challenges faced by companies seeking further expansion.

As the data shows, countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovenia are experiencing significant growth in e-commerce. In 2023, the value of the e-commerce market in the region increased by 29%, reaching EUR 104 billion. Forecasts indicate that by 2026, the share of e-commerce in retail sales in Poland and the Czech Republic could reach 23% and 24% respectively, highlighting a strong growth potential. The growth is also being driven by investments in modern digital infrastructure and the development of logistics, which enables companies to fulfil orders efficiently.

The Digital Single Market makes it much easier for companies in the CEE region to operate internationally. Previously, companies had to struggle with discrepancies in the legal regulations in their respective countries, which made expansion into other markets difficult. The harmonisation of online trading regulations reduces operational costs and simplifies procedures. In 2021, the value of cross- -border e-commerce sales in Europe amounted to EUR 237 billion, 59% of it coming from marketplace platforms. Standardised regulations give companies from the CEE region the opportunity to expand rapidly into European markets, resulting in their increased competitiveness.

See the full report: EU digital single market: a catalyst for business growth in the CEE region

Brussels, 19 August 2024

Unlocking Growth: Overcoming Barriers to the Single Market for Services in the EU

 

Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers (ZPP) & European Enterprise Alliance, present our position regarding the limitations on the EU Single Market’s for services. The progress of services liberalization within the EU has lagged. Unlike the well-developed Single Market for goods, the services sector remains underdeveloped, resulting in slower economic growth, lower employment rates, and diminished competitiveness. The 2023 Annual Single Market Report highlights that trade integration in services was just 3% in 1993, increasing to only 6% by 2021, illustrating a stagnation in market integration. The Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers (ZPP) & the European Enterprise Alliance, reaffirms our commitment to fostering economic cooperation within the EU. As we navigate current challenges, we strongly advocate for addressing the significant limitations on the freedom of services

Read more: Unlocking Growth: Overcoming Barriers to the Single Market for Services in the EU

Brussels, 25.07.2024

Brief on Committee Changes in the New EP Term 

1. Introduction 

The European Parliament has confirmed the list and size of its committees and delegations for the first half of the 10th legislative term. This brief outlines the key changes in committee composition, with a particular focus on the Industry, Research, and Energy (ITRE) and Environment, Public Health, and Food Safety (ENVI) committees, as well as the newly established Public Health (SANT) sub-committee. 

2. General Changes in Committees 

The European Parliament has 20 committees and four sub-committees. The number of members in several committees has been adjusted to reflect current priorities and demands. Notable changes include the increase in the size of the ITRE and ENVI committees, both of which now have 90 members. 

3. Focus on Key Committees 

A) Industry, Research, and Energy (ITRE) 

The ITRE committee has seen a significant expansion, increasing its membership by 12 seats to a total of 90 members. This change underscores the Parliament’s commitment to leveraging decarbonization as an opportunity to boost Europe’s industrial competitiveness. 

Key members and their roles include: 

• Borys Budka (EPP), the newly elected chair, known for his work on restructuring Polish state enterprises. 
• Ville Niinistö (Greens), who retains his seat but relinquishes his position on ENVI. ● Other notable members include Niels Fuglsang, Jens Geier, Nicolas Gonzalez Casares (S&D), Christophe Grudler, Bart Groothuis (Renew), and Michael Bloss (Greens). 

B) Environment, Public Health, and Food Safety (ENVI) 

The ENVI committee also expanded, now comprising 90 members, reflecting the high demand and importance placed on environmental and public health issues. 

Key members and their roles include: 

• Alessandra Moretti (S&D), anticipated to chair the committee, bringing her extensive experience since 2019. 
• Peter Liese (EPP), known for his work on emissions trading systems. 
  

• Other prominent members include Cesar Luena, Mohammed Chahim (S&D), Pascal Canfin, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, Emma Wiesner (Renew), Jutta Paulus, and Tilly Metz (Greens). 

C) Public Health (SANT) 

The new Public Health sub-committee (SANT) has been established with 30 members. This committee will focus on addressing pressing public health challenges, particularly in the wake of recent global health crises. 

4. Allocation and Distribution of Seats 

The composition of committees and sub-committees is designed to reflect the overall makeup of the Parliament. Seats are allocated among political groups in a manner that ensures fair representation. For instance, the socialists (S&D), liberals (Renew), and greens have strategically placed their key members in influential committees. 

5. Key Positions 

• ITRE: Borys Budka (EPP) is set to chair the committee. 
• ENVI: Alessandra Moretti (S&D) is the leading candidate for the chair position. 

Notable substitutes include Bas Eickhout (Greens) and Marie Toussaint (French Greens) for ENVI and ITRE, respectively, who, despite their substitute status, are expected to play significant roles. 

6. Current Status 

The names of the MEPs appointed to each committee have been announced, with the election of committee chairs and vice-chairs taking place during their constitutive meetings on July 23, 2024. The committees are poised to be pivotal in shaping legislative proposals, holding debates, and conducting hearings with external experts. 

7. Conclusion 

The changes in committee compositions reflect the European Parliament’s strategic priorities for the new term. With increased focus and expanded membership in key committees like ITRE, ENVI & SANT, the Parliament is poised to tackle critical issues related to industrial competitiveness, environmental protection, and public health. 

See more details: Brief on Committee Changes in the New EP Term