The business community wants its voice to be heard in the enlargement process

Chambers of commerce from countries aspiring to membership in the European Union (EU) have been active and respected members of Eurochambres for decades, and the business community wants to be included, engaged and have its voice heard in the enlargement process, it was assessed at a meeting in Brussels.

"Eurochambres has always believed that a strong and resilient private sector is the key to a successful enlargement process," said a Eurochambres statement on the conclusions of that meeting.

The Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro (PKCG) announced that a meeting was held in Brussels on Monday between representatives of Eurochambres and Commissioner for Enlargement and Eastern Neighborhood Marta Kos.

The meeting was also attended by the President of the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro, Nina Drakić, with the presidents of chambers of commerce from candidate and potential candidate countries.

“With enlargement as an ‘imperative’ of the new European Commission (EC), it was both timely and symbolic that the President of Eurochambres, Vladimir Dlouh, was joined at this meeting by eight presidents of chambers of commerce from candidate and potential candidate countries. Their joint presence in Brussels sent a clear and unified message - the business community wants to be included, engaged and have its voice heard in the enlargement process,” Eurochambres said in a statement.

Kos, who led the Chamber of Commerce of Slovenia from 1999 to 2003, supporting the Slovenian business community during the EU accession process, understands the importance of this process.

However, the current context is, as stated, unprecedented. One candidate country, Ukraine, is negotiating accession while at war. Enlargement must now respond to a rapidly changing geopolitical environment while remaining firmly grounded in a merit-based approach.

“Eurochambres and its network of chambers bring valuable experience to this process. Over more than 25 years, we have developed significant expertise in helping businesses align their operations with EU legislation and prepare for the single market. As our EU enlargement survey from last year clearly showed, it is crucial to inform businesses about EU legislation and the entire process at an early stage and help them adapt. This allows them to prepare for and ultimately contribute to structural reforms and competitiveness,” the statement said.

Chambers are ready to do even more, and Eurochambres Kos highlighted several priorities.

"These are a more predictable business environment through simplified and harmonised legislation, gradual access to the EU single market for countries that demonstrate significant reforms, secure and affordable access to energy and raw materials to strengthen resilience, and closer cooperation in skills development, vocational education and innovation, to preserve the competitive advantage of human capital," the statement said.

The contribution of chambers to specific but key topics for relations between the EU and candidate and potential candidate countries was also discussed, such as the reconstruction and recovery of Ukraine, economic cooperation in the Black Sea region, the improvement of economic relations between the EU and Turkey, in particular through the modernization of the Customs Union, and the realization of a Common Regional Market in the Western Balkans.

"To achieve these ambitions, the private sector must be recognized as a strategic partner. Dialogue between the public and private sectors must be improved at EU and national levels," the statement said.

Chambers must be equipped with the capacity and resources to support their members during this transformation.

As Kos stressed, enlargement must bring real benefits to citizens and businesses, both in current and future EU member states.

“Eurochambres remains committed to supporting chambers and businesses across Europe, so that when the time comes, they are ready to join, contribute and thrive,” the statement concluded.