In June 1984 the European Business Foundation (EBF) was launched by leading multinational companies and business organisations to act as a two-way channel between business and policymakers. It is registered as a non profit organisation in Brussels.
Business needs to be able to communicate at the earliest stage to European policymakers, whose work can often have a significant impact on profitability and jobs. European policymakers draft far-reaching proposals for Europe's future, both internally and externally, but often have limited resources, time and information to develop them.
The EBF established an effective framework for dialogue between business and policymakers and ensures that both parties are equipped with the necessary intellegence through:
- High Level Policy Roundtables which bring together senior business representatives and top European policymakers to examine the implications of forthcoming EU policy initiatives. These allow for constructive, realistic and workable frameworks to be developed across Europe
- Legislative Consultation Conferences which enable EU legal draftsmen to outline their background thinking on key legislative proposals at the earliest stage and to seek input from a wide range of specialist expertise from the business world
To date the EBF's activities have involved:
- More than 600 major companies
- 17 Trade Associations
- 12 Commission Directorates General
- Members of the European Parliament from the key Committees
- European Investment Bank
- European Environment Agency
- Economic and Social Committee
- European Agency for Health & Safety at Work
The issues addressed have ranged from:
- Company Law
- Competition
- Consumer Protection
- E-commerce
- Enlargement
- Environment
- Euro
- Grants & Loans
- Health & Safety
- Industrial Relations
- Intellectual Property
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Public Procurement
- Research & Development
- Taxation
- Transport
The sectors involved have included:
- Aerospace
- Automobile
- Banking
- Brewing
- Chemicals
- Construction
- Electronics
- Energy
- Engineering
- Entertainment & Media
- Financial Services
- Information Technology
- Insurance
- Medical Services
- Mining
- Paper & Publishing
- Pharmaceuticals
- Retailing
- Telecommunications
- Transport
