Green transition and deepening EU single market in focus during first two days of informal Competitiveness Council meeting

The first part of the informal meeting of the Competitiveness Council, chaired by the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU, concluded today.

Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell and Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch welcomed EU Member States, the European Commission and the EFTA countries to Stockholm to discuss the single market and the green transition.

On the first day, Mr Forssell, Ms Busch and the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise welcomed participants to a business fair at Scandinavian XPO in Arlandastad. Several innovative Swedish companies at the forefront of the green transition took part.

“This is a good opportunity to showcase Swedish companies’ breadth and innovation capacity to my European colleagues. The Swedish business sector shows that it’s possible to combine growth and green transition“

Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch

The second day of the meeting kicked off with discussions on how, through an enhanced single market and green transition, the EU can strengthen its long-term competitiveness. The ministers also discussed how short-term measures, such as those taken in response to the energy crisis, can strengthen EU competitiveness in the long run.

“In addition to deteriorating economic performance, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the energy crisis, rising inflation as well as climate change are all challenges affecting businesses in the EU. It’s therefore important to develop the single market and drive the green transition forward to strengthen long-term competitiveness“

Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell

Minister for Education Mats Persson will lead the meeting’s third and final day tomorrow, 8 February, focusing on research issues.