The future for the economy industry and business in Europe

A Workshop Hosted by the European Movement in Scotland
Growing unease surrounds the trajectory of the European economy, a sentiment underscored by two significant recent reports submitted to the EU.

The Draghi report focused on the competitiveness of Europe and the long-term prospects of the European Union. It advocated for greater investment to boost productivity across Europe, alongside revised regulations for banking and institutional investors. Mario Draghi, who previously served as president of the European Central Bank and as Italy’s Prime Minister, cautioned that the EU must adopt a more unified industrial strategy, accelerate decision-making, and commit to substantial investments to remain economically competitive with global powers like the United States and China.

The Letta report, on the other hand, explored the future of the European Single Market. It recommended strengthening European research facilities, building a robust technological framework for the continent, and establishing a European Knowledge Commons. Enrico Letta, another former Italian Prime Minister, emphasized the need to eliminate obstacles to knowledge exchange, foster collaborations between public and private sectors, enhance the mobility of researchers and innovators, promote open science, protect researcher independence, and close the funding shortfall in research and innovation.

This workshop will delve into the key points of these reports, assessing their feasibility and potential for implementation. It will also explore the broader ramifications of these findings for Europe as a whole, including specific impacts on Scotland and the UK.

The event will feature insights from a panel of distinguished speakers, with ample time allocated for audience engagement and discussion.

The speakers include:
David Martin, former Labour MEP for Scotland and Vice-President of the European Parliament.
David Martin holds the record as the UK’s longest-serving MEP, representing Scotland from 1984 to 2019. His parliamentary work centered on Trade and Development, Human Rights, Constitutional Affairs, and Democracy, during which he authored over 100 reports for the Parliament. He has held positions as a visiting Professor at the University of Glasgow (2019-2022) and as a Senior Fellow at RSIS in Singapore. Currently, he serves as President of the European Movement in Scotland.

Peter Sellar, Partner at the Brussels office of Squire Patton Boggs global law firm.
Peter Sellar specializes in EU environmental, social, and governance law, with expertise in areas such as chemicals, biocides, pesticides, ecodesign, electronics, electrical equipment, cosmetics, medical devices, and sustainability regulations, including the circular economy. He is recognized as an ‘A List’ Member of the Brussels Bar