November 14, 2023
BCC Director General, Shevaun Haviland, has met with the Executive Vice President of the EU Commission, Maroš Šefčovič, to discuss policy on the green transition and its impact upon trade.
They met at the EU Commission Headquarters, in Berlaymont, to discuss co-operation on the green transition, carbon border adjustment policies, the state of the UK-EU co-operative relationship and building on the success of the Windsor Framework implementation.
The meeting formed part of a larger programme of talks with European Chambers of Commerce, businesses, diplomats and politicians in Brussels, between Monday and Wednesday this week.
The schedule also includes attending the European Parliament of Enterprises (EPE) 2023 alongside over 700 business leaders and senior EU policymakers.
While tomorrow (Wednesday) the BCC will meet the UK Ambassador and Head of Mission to the EU, Lindsay Croisdale-Appleby, and host a roundtable with business leaders on the ‘Future of UK-EU Business Engagement’.
Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:
“It will be three years this Christmas since the Brexit deal was agreed and, while businesses have adapted, there is still much to be done to improve our trading relationship.
“The EU remains the UK’s biggest market, and businesses on both sides of the Channel know there is great potential to explore new opportunities and grow our economies.
“That’s why we have come here, to show that firms up and down the UK still want to trade in Europe. And if we work together, we can do more to break down some of the trade barriers we currently face.
“It was very useful to meet with Mr Šefčovič today to discuss issues like the EU’s new Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, alignment on emissions trading schemes and future regulation.
“It’s only by keeping this dialogue open and understanding the aims and intentions of both sides that we can reach the best outcome for business and our economies.”