The ministers responsible for competitiveness to discuss entrepreneurship and further development of the single market

As the country holding the presidency of the Council of the EU, Romania will organise an informal meeting of the ministers responsible for competitiveness (COMPET) in Bucharest during 2–3 May 2019. Finland is represented by Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä. The ministers will discuss the role of entrepreneurship, SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups in enhancing EU competitiveness.

Finland considers that growth, competitiveness, employment and wellbeing are founded on business activities and skills that constantly need to be developed and renewed. SMEs play a key role in economic growth and the creation of new jobs. That is why we have to further improve the conditions for entrepreneurship and provide for SMEs a favourable operating environment that encourages growth.

“To promote growth of SMEs at EU level, it is important to continue enhancing the operation of the single market so as to build a truly European-wide home market for them,” says Minister Lintilä.

The COMPET ministers will also discuss an integrated approach under which the deepening of the single market and industrial policy will be examined as a totality. The discussions will provide impetus for further work by the Commission in outlining an action plan for implementing the EU industrial policy vision and single market rules.

Finland considers that ensuring the global competitiveness of European industry calls for a comprehensive approach and an ever-closer integration of the single market, digitalisation, industrial and trade policies.

“We need to build a strong economic foundation for the EU and prepare for global uncertainties through a vision for sustainable growth,” Lintilä notes.

“The European industry must seek to play the global lead role in fields such as digital economy and strategic value chains,” Minister Lintilä says.

Over lunch, the European ministers will discuss energy-intensive industries.

Inquiries:
Nina Alatalo, Special Adviser (EU and International Affairs), Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 50 431 8015
Anniina Lehtonen, Communications Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 50 476 3736