Europe's industrial policy landscape is shifting, with businesses facing intensifying competition from global support programmes. As part of Ibec’s campaign, Making a Resilient, Competitive Europe a Reality, this paper outlines the priorities for Irish business ahead of Ireland’s upcoming EU Presidency.

The EU must react to this changing environment by ensuring a level playing field within the Single Market. To attract essential private investment, the Presidency must focus on maintaining a globally competitive tax position, addressing market fragmentation, and delivering critical infrastructure across clean energy, transport, and housing.

Key recommendations from the report include:

• State Aid and Competition: Ensure proportionate State Aid rules that support strategic investment while maintaining fair competition and a level playing field.
• Tax Competitiveness: Deliver radical simplification of EU tax legislation and reporting requirements to avoid unilateral measures that disadvantage European business.
• Infrastructure and Housing: Streamline permitting processes and prioritise investment in critical infrastructure and housing to address capacity pressures.
• Energy Resilience: Accelerate the deployment of renewable energy and support industrial decarbonisation to improve affordability and protect against carbon leakage.
• Enhanced Connectivity: Strengthen Ireland's links to Europe and the world by investing in sustainable transport networks, increased port capacity, and improved airport links.