Europe’s automotive industry is at a critical turning point

Just ten years ago, European manufacturers were widely regarded as being a decade ahead of their Chinese competitors. Today, the situation has reversed. Chinese automakers have become formidable competitors—not only on price, but also on quality, technology, and speed of execution.

This shift should prompt a serious reflection on Europe’s regulatory choices and the cumulative impact they have had on our industrial competitiveness.

European policymakers must fully recognize that every regulatory decision has consequences for innovation, investment, employment, and our ability to compete globally.

The priority must now be clear: competitiveness, simplicity, harmonization, and transparency.

This is precisely the ambition behind EU Inc. and the proposed 28th Optional Regime. Europe should move rapidly toward a single, simple, transparent European Business Code that can, wherever possible, replace the current patchwork of 27 national legal frameworks.

Simplification is no longer a matter of convenience—it is an economic necessity.

If Europe wants its industries to remain global leaders, our regulatory framework must become a competitive advantage rather than a competitive burden.

The competitiveness of European businesses should be at the heart of every legislative decision.