Spotlight on European competitiveness ?

€17 trillion: that is roughly what the European Union’s gross domestic product amounts to, making it one of the world’s economic powerhouses. In today’s fast-changing global economy and challenging geopolitical situation, the EU must take action to safeguard and boost its competitive edge on the global stage. The EU’s internal market is one of its greatest assets in this regard, along with future-focused policies to help address obstacles for competitiveness and foster innovation.

Ensuring that goods and services can move freely within the EU’s single market means consumers can benefit from a wider choice of products at more competitive prices. It also opens opportunities for businesses, providing them with more potential to grow. With its policies, the EU creates the conditions for companies to compete fairly with each other, and works to prevent practices that negatively impact consumers.

The current situation of the global economy, marked by increasing instability in supply chains and shortages in labour and skills, brings particular challenges. Against this background, the EU set out plans to secure a sustainable supply of critical raw materials and key technologies including semiconductors. These items are crucial for developing products that will allow us to meet our climate and digital objectives. The plans include measures that will help increase production of these materials within the EU and boost our ability to withstand disruptions in global supply chains.

In their strategic agenda for 2024-2029, the leaders of EU Member States underlined their commitment to strengthening the EU’s competitiveness on a global level. They outlined several priorities to achieve this objective, including:

• investing in skills, training and education,
• further promoting an innovation- and business-friendly environment in the EU,
• mobilising both public and private funding for investment projects, including by integrating European capital markets.

Strengthening European competitiveness is also at the heart of the objectives that the European Commission that took office on 1 December 2024 has set itself.

Our December newsletter puts the spotlight on European competitiveness. As always, we also recommend publications on other topics.

Enjoy the good reads!

A clean industrial deal delivering decarbonisation and competitiveness

Amid high energy prices and intense global competition, the EU is at a crossroads. How can it decarbonise its industries while boosting their resilience and remaining a global leader? Read about the Clean Industry Deal, the EU’s plan to support industries through the green transition.

Available in English ??

Align, act, accelerate: Research, technology and innovation to boost European competitiveness

This report provides recommendations on how to maximise the impact of EU research and innovation programmes in the future. These include launching a technology monitoring initiative, increasing expenditure on research and development including through private investments, and boosting cross-border cooperation in research projects.

Available in English ??

Europe's sustainability transitions outlook: Short-term action, long-term thinking

In recent years, Europe has faced a multitude of risks and shocks to its food, water, energy and other crucial systems. As the EU navigates a convergence of economic, social, and environmental crises, this report recommends strategies that can help the EU align its short-term actions to address these crises with long-term sustainability goals.

Available in English ??

How can Europe meet China’s technology challenge? - Complexity, contestation, cost and consequences

With China’s emergence as a leading player in the technology industry, this research paper explores the EU’s economic relationship with the country. It looks at how EU-China relations have evolved throughout recent decades as well as the impact of these relations on either side. The paper also raises questions as to how these ties may evolve in years to come.

Available in English ??

Data sharing and competition law: The state of play and the way forward

Explore the benefits that open data can bring to small- and medium-sized enterprises, from helping them find business opportunities to providing them with insights on their competitors. See also what the EU has been doing to stimulate a fair and competitive data market, including via the Data Act.

Available in English ??

Annual report on European Small and Medium Enterprises 2023/2024: SME performance review 2023/2024

SMEs make up over 99% of EU businesses and are an integral part of the EU’s economy. They are a vibrant component of EU society and deeply embedded in local communities. How have SMEs been performing and what kind of policy actions are proposed to maximise their opportunities? Read all about it in this report!

Available in English ??

In your language

Europe and you

An activity book through which pupils aged 7 to 10 can discover fun facts about the 27 countries of the EU, find out about the names of their capitals and colour in their flags.

Available in all official languages of the EU ??

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One Health Governance in the European Union

There is scientific consensus on the interdependence between the health of humans, animals and ecosystems including plants, fungi and bacteria. However, all too often, policy areas like agriculture, biodiversity and crisis management are treated in isolation. This scientific opinion provides recommendations to support the successful implementation of an integrated ‘One Health’ approach to EU policies.

Available in English ??

Our news

Register now for EU Open Data Days 2025 in Luxembourg!

Registration for EU Open Data Days 2025 is now open! The Publications Office of the EU is excited to invite you to join the event in person on 19-20 March 2025 in Luxembourg. The event promotes the harnessing of open data’s power. Over two engaging days, learn from experts in the field through success stories and best practices and be at the forefront of open data. Take this unique opportunity to engage and network with the open data community and innovators in the field of open data. Live webstreaming will also be available. Whether you are a public policymaker, part of the private sector, a data publisher, analyst, academic, or simply a passionate advocate for open data from across Europe and beyond, this event is for you. Book your place now! Together, let's shape a future where data is not just open but optimally leveraged for an empowered society.

Check out our latest Key Publications Catalogue!

The catalogue offers a selection of titles published in the last few months on the EU publications website, where they remain available for you to view, download or order in various formats. This edition includes titles related to a wide variety of topics such as EU climate policies, the use of artificial intelligence in education, the EU’s humanitarian aid actions, and more! With a special section dedicated to publications for children, the catalogue caters to all ages. Keen to stay abreast of EU affairs? Then dive into our catalogue today!

Available in English ??