Amid growing efforts to reinforce the European economy, Scandinavian industry representatives expressed the need for easier access to EU funds rather than increased financing, Euractiv reported.
As Brussels discusses how best to counter the trade policies of the US and China, EU industry is waiting for the outcome of ongoing negotiations on funding and state aid.
Talks on the bloc’s long-term budget for 2025 will also be essential to the debate in the national sectors. Hans-Olof Jacke, director general of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, said in Sønderborg on Tuesday:
I want us to get rid of this perception that the US is putting tons of money into stuff and in Europe, we don’t have subsidies. There’s just as much, if not more, subsidies in Europe than there is in the US, but they’re much more targeted and simple.
Kim Fausing, CEO of Danish multinational Danfoss, said that “in Europe, it’s complicated to get to the money that has been allocated.”
I think we have a hard time to see where the money is now, even though it has been substantial amounts. I don’t have the same problem in the US.
Meanwhile, Kim Jørgensen, CEO of the European Investment Bank, stated that Brussels should focus on “crowding in private money.”
They would prefer a smaller budget with 100% control than a bigger budget with 80% control.
Jørgensen also voiced hope that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen would “change her mind and go down to at least 50 per cent” of control over how the EU allocated funds.
