The EU will increase its competitiveness
The European Union is committed to boosting its economic competitiveness
Daniela Budu, 13.02.2026, 14:00
At the end of an informal summit near Brussels on Thursday, European Union leaders promised more efficiency and less bureaucracy in business to cope with growing global competition from the US and China. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the single market would be strengthened. “One Europe, one market” — that is our ambition, said the head of the EU executive.
There can be no competitiveness without additional investment, said European Council President Antonio Costa. EU leaders agreed to accelerate the completion of a Savings and Investments Union, to review merger rules to help create European champions, and to facilitate the expansion of companies.
Present at the meeting, Romanian President Nicușor Dan said that the EU executive has committed to coming up with more proposals to lower energy prices because, he said, Europe is unable to be as competitive as the US or China due to higher energy prices. In a press conference held after the meeting, Nicușor Dan mentioned that at the European level, a majority of member states are emerging that want investments in an electricity network, with a single market and a uniform price across the EU.
“With some reluctance on the part of countries that produce cheap energy, especially from renewables, a majority is emerging that wants Europe to invest in a true electricity network, so that we truly have a single market and a uniform price for electricity across the Union,” said the head of state. He added that the leaders of the member states do not want a “protectionist” market, but that Europe must respond to “certain anti-competitive practices” in order to protect its economic sectors.
He also announced that in April, the Commission would propose a single system whereby companies could register in any Member State, and said that business representatives across Europe were ‘rightly complaining’ about bureaucracy. ‘One example is that the money that companies in Europe spend on complying with different rules is twice as much as the money that companies in Europe pay for research and development. And that, of course, is uncompetitive,’ said the president. According to him, discussions about competitiveness are closely linked to the future budget of the European Union. “Regarding the multiannual financial framework, the discussions we will have will be intertwined between competitiveness and what the Union’s budget for 2028–2034 will look like,” added Nicușor Dan.
The head of state also announced that the EU executive has committed to coming up with more proposals on these issues in the coming months. In April, the Commission will come up with a proposal on the 28th regime for companies, i.e. a single system whereby companies can register anywhere in Europe, according to the president. In June, according to him, there will be a debate on greenhouse gas emission certificates. And in each of the Councils there will be a section on competitiveness, the head of state also announced. (MI)
