European businesses to hold crisis talks on the economy
12/10/08 | 10:00
On Tuesday over 600 businesses from across Europe, including the UK, will meet in the European Parliament for crisis talks on how the global economic downturn is affecting them.
The meeting, which is being coordinated by Chambers of Commerce throughout Europe, hopes to provide European leaders with clear evidence of how companies are coping, and to advise on what policies need to be adopted to help businesses through an exceptionally difficult period.
Several European figures will attend the talks including EU Commission President, José Manuel Barroso and Enterprise Commissioner, Günter Verheugen. Joining them will be the President of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), Neville Reyner.
Commenting on the decision to hold crisis talks in Brussels, Director General of the BCC, David Frost, said:
“Most European economies are facing a serious downturn and many companies are now struggling to access a reliable flow of credit.
“With this in mind, there is clearly a need for businesses across the continent to meet, discuss the problems affecting them and to directly pass on this information to European policy makers.
“Given the monumental events of the last couple of weeks, these talks are a unique opportunity for the real economy, a vital part of every community, to help forge a path out of the current financial turmoil.”
Ends
Media Contacts:
Fiona Cunningham
Tel: 020 7654 5812
Email: f.cunningham@britishchambers.org.uk
OR
Sam Turvey
Tel: 020 7654 5813
Email: s.turvey@britishchambers.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is the National Voice of Local Business.
The BCC sits at the heart of a powerful nationwide network of Accredited Chambers of Commerce serving business across the UK, which employ over five million people.