By Jelena Drenjanin, Municipal Councillor of Huddinge (Sweden) and Member of the EPP-CoR Group
At the European People's Party Working Group on #Competitiveness in Brussels, I made one thing clear: local and regional representatives stand ready to actively contribute to strengthening Europe’s competitiveness.
Competitiveness is not an abstract concept. It is about #jobs, #innovation, energy prices and opportunities for our citizens. From the local level, we see directly what works and what does not. That is why we want to be part of the solution.
One of my key messages was the need for stronger support to European start-ups. Too often, promising companies receive public funding to grow, only to relocate outside Europe once they scale up. We must create the right conditions for them to stay, expand and create jobs here in Europe. This is not only about innovation; it is also about respecting taxpayers’ money and ensuring that public investment delivers long-term benefits for our economies.
The upcoming revision of the public procurement directives offers a concrete opportunity to improve the business environment. We need greater flexibility and we must adjust thresholds to reflect inflation and today’s economic realities. Procurement rules should help our #regions invest and grow, not create unnecessary administrative burdens.
Financing is another crucial area. I believe we need to strengthen equity-based financing in the European Union, particularly within the framework of the Savings and Investment Union. In #Sweden, for example, households can save approximately €15,000 tax-free. This allows people’s savings not only to work for themselves, but also to contribute to investment and economic growth. Encouraging this kind of participation strengthens both citizens’ prosperity and Europe’s competitiveness.
Energy costs are also a pressing concern. High energy prices undermine industrial competitiveness and put jobs at risk. A healthy industry is essential for citizens’ prosperity. What benefits companies ultimately benefits citizens as well. If businesses struggle or relocate, jobs disappear and communities suffer. Competitive companies are therefore key to safeguarding employment and economic stability.
From the perspective of the EPP-CoR Group, competitiveness must be built from the ground up. Local and regional authorities represent half of public employment, one third of public spending and two thirds of public investment, while implementing 70% of EU legislation. These figures speak for themselves. If we want effective Single Market policies, we must systematically involve local and regional authorities in shaping and enforcing them.
Europe’s competitiveness will not be strengthened by institutions alone. It will be strengthened by cooperation across all levels of governance. Local and regional leaders are ready to play their part.