CIP participated in the BusinessEurope (BE) Presidents’ Council, which convened in Prague on June 3, where the new President, Frederik Persson, who has been the head of the Swedish Business Confederation since 2017, was appointed and will take office on July 1.

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister (PM) Petr Fiala, who was handed a declaration from the business community with the main priorities for the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union that will be held during the second half of 2022.  The Business Declaration focuses on the consequences of the war and the need to review European policies and adapt them to the new context European businesses are facing. Czech priorities include, among others, a resilient economy and institutions, as well as strengthening security and energy infrastructures displaying a solid alignment with business priorities.

CIP’s secretary general, Carla Sequeira, reinforced during the discussion that companies cannot absorb additional costs and that European policymakers must review the excessive burden imposed, with severe consequences for the competitiveness of Portuguese companies.