Support for businesses to promote EU competitiveness and growth discussed in Riga

High on the agenda was Jean-Claude Juncker's Investment Plan for Europe. HLG members took the opportunity to emphasise the importance of implementing the 3rd pillar of the plan. This promotes Single Market reforms and implementation of the Better Regulation Package. HLG members also emphasised that the success of such efforts would continue to depend upon the Competitiveness Council's ability to ensure compliance of the EU legislative proposals to the business interests.

Speaking after the meeting, Ms Zaiga Liepiņa, HLG Chair and Deputy State Secretary to the Latvian Ministry of Economic Affairs, said: "Much of the attention regarding President Juncker's Plan has been on the amount of money to be mobilised. However, a favourable business environment will be critical to securing these investments and boosting the EU competitiveness."

"The debates in this meeting made it clear that our focus must be on removing the remaining obstacles and the unnecessary complexity and costs of the regulations that entrepreneurs are faced with."

The HLG will have its next meeting during the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union.