The EBO Worldwide Network Meetings on December 2 and 4, 2024, brought together over 40 European Business Organisations (EBOs) from around the globe to address issues affecting EU businesses and to collaborate on common challenges and sharing experience and best-practice among like-minded organisations. These meetings facilitated dialogue between EBO representatives and senior EU officials, focusing on EU policy developments and projects to support European enterprises worldwide.
On December 2, the meeting commenced with detailed reports from the EBO Board, highlighting strategic priorities, regional achievements, and advocacy efforts, such as the CSDDD Position Paper and the EU Project Consultants Survey. Updates on finance and governance, communications, enlargement, and internationalisation further reinforced the ambitious agenda being pursued to build our capacity as a network.
We were delighted to table the network’s first global Business Sentiment Report which has been developed with the support of a majority of EBOs, and will be further developed and refined to present invaluable insights of the opportunities and challenges faced by European business abroad.
Regional representatives from Africa, the Americas & Caribbean, ASEAN, East Asia & Pacific, Europe & Eastern Partnership, and South Asia & Middle East, presented reports showcasing unique opportunities and challenges across continents, fostering a comprehensive understanding of the global business environment. Additionally, EBO leaders discussed ongoing initiatives, including the Enterprise Europe Network, the EuroCham Vietnam Green Economy Forum, EU Regulations, and other collaborative projects.
The December 4 sessions included dialogue and exchange with key European Commission Directorates-General, including:
- Maud Labat from DG TRADE discussed the overview of the New Commission’s Priorities from a trade perspective;
- Mathieu Bousquet from DG NEAR provided an overview of neighborhood and enlargement initiatives, and Nicolas Fichers and Isabel Emerson from DG INTPA reported on business support projects, forums, policy dialogues, and feedback from EBOs on our engagement with the Global Gateway Business Advisory Group;
- The final segment in collaboration with DG GROW, Amandine Joannesse and Christos Skouras provided valuable insights into business sentiment reports, SME support mechanisms, and the EEN Single Market Programme.
The EBOWN Annual Brussels Meeting and our follow-up December online meetings are designed to foster informed dialogue and robust exchanges, and collaboration to strengthen the global presence of European businesses. The discussions reinforced the importance of joint actions across regions and sectors, and identifying ways to leverage shared experience and capability across the network.
The EBO Worldwide Network remains committed to fostering deeper engagement with EU institutions, and by building on these discussions, the network reaffirms its dedication to supporting the global growth and resilience of European enterprises globally.
