OPCE - Business Manifesto
For
Economic Growth and Jobs
Last years were dominated by a financial and economic crisis unlike,
the sovereign debt and deficit crisis lead to job and enterprises
destruction.
That´s why -from the OPCE- conscious of the big interdependence of
European Capitals, we have reacted with strong determination to deliver
our vision and proposals in order to design - the business community,
together - an economic, fiscal and labour frame to emerge stronger from
the crisis.
European capital employers are absolutely convinced that a new
form of growth will be defined to provide the stability needed.
A new form or growths where structural reforms and growthrelated must be the priority, and where citizens and businesses will be the
main actors for a new emerging and prosperous and competitive future.
To emerge stronger and better for the future, European Capital
Employer´s work hard in order to propose a reorientation of European and
national actions/policies.
Conscious that the OPCE Capital cities play a powerful role in the
overall growth and prosperity of the European economy, this business
manifesto is a direct call to action on the key priorities for business.
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OPCE Key Priorities for Business:
1. Eliminate hurdles for business, creating safes and “business
friendly” environments and simplifying bureaucratic restrictions;
Promotion of the “One Stop Shop” principle in favour of SMEs;
2. Governments will to Enshrine a set of public deficit limits and to
adopt rules for the progressive reduction of debt in line with the
European Union’s Stability and Growth Pact;
3. Modernisation of the labour markets and social policies with the
objectives of fostering job creation and improving firms’
competitiveness;
4. Improve pre-employment training and general employability skills
(coordinated approach between Public Sector and business
community);
5. Cut taxes for businesses, especially for new enterprises to create a
new generation of entrepreneurs;
6. Increase capital allowances;
7. Governments must to ensure that the financial systems
modernisation works in the public interest; financial institutions
must to facilitate the flow of money towards firms, specially small
and medium entreprises;
8. Make efforts for a simplification of the rules and all associated
administrative burden to foster SMEs’ participation in all activities,
particularly in innovation;
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9. Intelligent public procurement: sustainable procurement as an
integral part of public sector; to reform the public procurement
rules to improve the participation of small and medium entreprises
bidding for public contracts;
10. Make efforts to simplify rules for Capital cities (maintenance,
building, business licenses simplification, etc.)
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OPCE Key Priorities for Business in European Capital Cities:
Europe-wide the Capital cities are challenged by demographic change,
modified labour markets and public budget deficits. Many of these
challenges can be mastered with prosperity and economic growth.
The Capital cities are in many ways pioneers for other regions, too.
Therefore the metropolitan areas are in charge to create vital conditions
for more economic growth and employment.
This includes e.g.:
1. To strengthen enterprises` competitiveness, to enable economic
growth and to reduce unemployment
2. To facilitate a capable infrastructure for traffic, energy and
education
3. To reduce municipal taxes and public charges, in particular to
create and secure attractive conditions for start-ups and growing
SMEs
4. To pursue fiscal consolidation and reduce public debt levels,
thereby reducing the interest burden and to involve more private
capital in the meaning of Public-Private-Partnership.
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