Invest, accelerate and simplify: Stéphane Séjourné outlines Commission plans to increase EU competitiveness

Mr Séjourné stressed that the EU regrets and does not want to escalate the trade situation with the US, confirming the EU’s readiness to respond swiftly and firmly with proportionate countermeasures, which could be dropped if negotiations with the Trump administration prove fruitful. The Commission is monitoring the situation and taking actions to protect the internal market, EU consumers and companies, he reassured members of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection on Tuesday afternoon. Impetus for the clean industrial deal Outlining the goals of the new EC competitiveness compass  the Commission’s focus for this mandate is on decarbonisation and resilience. Taking a cross-cutting approach, the Clean Industrial Deal will improve access to affordable energy, raw materials and funding. Mr Séjourné said fresh initiatives will soon be presented on strengthening the automotive, metal, steel and chemical industries and announced a legislative proposal on public procurement will be ready in 2026. MEPs wanted to know more about upcoming rules on public procurement, while they launch work on their own-initiative report on the subject, and plans to support production “made in Europe”. Simplification Commissioner Séjourné announced an upcoming Omnibus proposal on simplification will be presented at the end of May for small mid-cap companies, together with the New Single Market Strategy. It will be designed to free-up investment capacities and better distribute...