Politically and economically, we are living through challenging times. In Brussels, we are at the start of a new legislative term. As many a sector in town, we therefore used our Annual General Assembly in June to analyse the outcomes of the elections and discuss what to expect from EU policy-making in the years ahead. In doing so, a widespread hope was expressed that the next 5 years in Brussels should see a greater re-focusing again on the question of how politics and policies can better support the private sector. How, in other words, can EU policies boost the private sector’s ability to innovate, trade, and create jobs and growth in Europe (and beyond)?
There are some cautious signs that such re-focusing is happening – at least, the rhetoric seems to be shifting in that direction. Various actors are calling for an Industrial Deal – to supplement the Green Deal – as a programmatic focus for the next 5 years. But whether such a change will simply trigger a re-focusing of EU regulatory activity or actually result in a somewhat lower regulatory pace is far from clear. Either way, in times of rising geopolitical tensions, increased defence spending needs, growing debts and tighter budgets, a pro-growth & jobs agenda will probably struggle to attract the necessary attention, programmatic and financial support from politicians that it would require to be successful.
To kick-start the debate, I therefore leave you with three wishes from our Policy Manifesto for the next five years.
First of all, we need the Commission to protect a frictionless EU Single Market for food & drink products and prevent national discriminatory or re-fragmentation attempts in a clear and resolute manner. The latest move in Finland to allow the sales of fermented alcoholic beverages of up to 8% ABV – but not the sale of comparable distilled products of up to 8% ABV – outside the monopoly is a case in point. Thankfully, the Commission has clearly labelled this measure ‘ineffective as well as disproportional’. It also found ‘that the scientific evidence is insufficient, and there has been no fiscal justification provided either’. We can only hope that the next Commission will make the integrity of the Internal Market a top priority and that it will be successful in fighting the emergence of barriers such as the one in Finland which threaten to hamper fair and frictionless intra-community trade.
European spirits are increasingly popular abroad, especially among the growing middle classes in many countries seeking high-quality and trusted food & drink products from Europe. As a second wish, we therefore call on the EU to pursue an ambitious trade agenda that promotes openness and cooperation, in particular with high-growth regions.
Finally, we believe we need a new conversation and innovative approaches to achieve responsible, inclusive and sustainable growth. Looking at the broader EU agri-food ecosystem that we are part of, considering some of our core sectorial concerns, and taking into account the high sustainability ambition we all share, we believe a mix of legislative and self-regulatory partnership approaches is likely to work best to make our sector more competitive, resilient and sustainable in the run-up to 2030. If you want to know more, I invite to you read our Manifesto in full here.
We look forward to discussing and debating with all of you & hope our conversations will be conducive to achieving positive policy outcomes in the next five years!
Ulrich Adam, Director General*
*In his capacity as permanent representative of SPRL ADLOR Consulting
