The cooperation within the European Union has improved over the past few years. For a free-trade-dependent country like Sweden, a good cooperation within the EU is absolutely necessary.
Countries within the EU currently accounts for three-quarters of the Swedish export market and nearly 80 percent of Swedish imports come from European countries. A large part of the rules governing the companies’ conditions are European-based. Every other new business rule relating to Swedish entrepreneurs come from Europe.
Corporate visions need to be heard in Europe. Therefore, the Chamber of Commerce presents the report "Companies, the Chamber of Commerce and the European Union", where our priorities within the EU policy are described.
The Stockholm Chamber of Commerce proposes for a business-friendly Europe:
- Simplification of rules - Reduce the administrative costs
- Equal opportunities on the EU internal market - Ensure that all EU countries introduce a common regulatory framework
- Avoid detailed regulation in the environmental field - Use standardization
- Develop the service sector and expand services in health care
- Introduce common EU patents
- Simplified VAT- rules
- Introduce a common corporate tax system in the EU
- A system for mutual recognition of electronic identity within the EU
- Efficient cross-border electronic procurement in Europe
- Facilitate workforce mobility and promote labour supply
- Promote increase in energy sources and types of energy
- Remove all EU hassle duties under 6 percent
- Transparency and predictability in the imposition of new custom rules
- Promote growth and trade issues in the EU Baltic Sea Strategy
- Reform the EU budget and invest in research, innovation and infrastructure
Cecilia Helland