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Helena Walsh ist CEO von H/Advisors Brüssel. Wir haben ihr drei Fragen zu den Herausforderungen für Unternehmen angesichts der weltpolitischen Lage gestellt und sie um eine Einschätzung aus EU-Sicht gebeten. Hier sind ihre Antworten (auf Englisch):
What are the biggest challenges facing companies in the EU due to the current political disruptions?
Strategic autonomy and trade wars: the imposition of mutual tariffs between the EU and the US will sharply increase costs on companies in Europe that import and export from the US. For instance, sectors such as pharmaceuticals, which have layers of transatlantic supply chains that cannot easily be replaced, will be particularly hit. Some EU companies, however, such as those in the defence industry, may see an advantage. European defence companies will be explicitly favoured for procurement, giving them an edge compared to their 3rd country competitors.
Legal uncertainty and rapid policy change: Given the recent EU focus on competitiveness and de-regulation, there is no one-size-fits-all approach on how businesses should adapt to the new von der Leyen policy priorities. With simplification efforts already on the way (e.g. Omnibus, Digital Package), businesses are asked to comply with existing laws whilst expecting the rapid adoption of ongoing simplification laws. This creates high legal uncertainty, especially for companies’ compliance functions, necessitating advance intelligence from their government affairs teams.
What do businesses need to do to regain greater planning security? What role can the business sector play in restoring greater planning security to the system?
Due to the breakdown of the global free trade consensus, businesses will need to make strategic decisions regarding their supply chains. The EU-US trade war is likely to force the EU to choose between the US and China as a strategic trade partner. Similarly, businesses will have to adapt and explore onshoring, nearshoring or focus on markets where there are stable trade and geopolitical ties.
To this end, businesses will need to proactively follow the latest political and policy developments. Changes and about-faces in political decisions are the norm of today, meaning taking an eye off the ball could leave a business exposed and unprepared for politics-driven shocks. Keeping ahead of the curve on in the rapidly-changing legislative agenda can therefore prevent companies from incurring higher compliance burdens down the road.
What are your top 3 recommendations for companies to establish sustainable and trustworthy communication with policymakers, the public, and other businesses, fostering long-term resilience?
1. Position your business as a partner to policymakers: With today’s crowded policy environment, businesses need to make an extra effort to capture the attention of policymakers. One way of doing that is by showcasing their unique selling proposition compared to their rivals. Another way is to showcase businesses’ contribution to the European economy and society, underscoring an alignment with the EU’s long-term strategic objectives. Lastly, these efforts can be further amplified by effective thought leadership activities, such as C-suite opinion pieces and speaking opportunities at key events.
2. Be transparent and accountable: Especially in today’s political climate, policymakers will scrutinize your company's interests before engaging. Declare your interests via the Transparency Register and in your communication to stakeholders. Effective lobbying in Brussels relies on access to key players and persuasive arguments. Lack of transparency can draw undue attention and undermine objectives, as seen in the recent scandals in the European Parliament.
3. Gain broad support when advocating (coalition building): Building broad consensus on issues signals to policymakers that diverse concerns and perspectives are being put forward. This requires, however, engagement with both political and non-political actors. Regarding the former, engagement with more than one political group is needed, given the fragmented nature of the European Parliament and the formation of ad hoc coalitions on various issues. Working with think tanks, academia, industry allies, and media can amplify your efforts and produce positive outcomes, especially on complex and politically sensitive topics.
Foto: H/Advisors
