British Chambers of Commerce Launches European Manifesto

The British Chambers of Commerce has today published its European manifesto ahead of the EU Parliamentary elections on June 4.

The BCC’s manifesto calls on the European Parliament and the Commission to put business at the very heart of the EU’s agenda. The organisation is urging all member states to wholly reject protectionism, and it argues for a moratorium on any new employment law in order to give companies the freedom to focus on survival during the global economic downturn.

The key proposals in the BCC’s manifesto include:

• The introduction of a moratorium on social legislation.
• A revolution in financial regulation.
• The completion of the single market while making it work on the ground.
• Implement a radical review of the way the EU and member states legislate.
• Tear down the barriers to global trade.

Commenting, Director General of the BCC, David Frost, said:

“Europe is at an important crossroads. GDP growth is not expected to recover until 2010 while unemployment and public deficits continue to rise. Businesses across the EU are experiencing tighter credit conditions, serious cash flow problems, and they are scaling back investment activity and shedding jobs. In the UK, the manufacturing sector has been hit particularly hard due to the collapse in world trade.

“Britain’s new MEPs will play a pivotal role in ensuring that Europe can recover from this crisis and in building its long term prosperity. All candidates need to ensure that the pronouncements rejecting protectionism in all its forms, whether at the EU summit in March or the G20 meeting in April, do not ring hollow.”

Click here to download a full copy of the manifesto in PDF format>>