Slo govt urged to see Brexit as opportunity, help companies
BSCC recommendations including taking into account the actual concerns of businesses and understanding Brexit as an opportunity to help companies get promoted on the British market and in creating new business models.
After the general election at the beginning of June, in which the ruling Conservative Party of PM Theresa May failed to win a majority, the probability is greater of a "softer" Brexit, which would be more acceptable for businesses, the chamber said on Thursday.
Such a scenario envisages the UK remaining within the joint European market and in the customs union, which would oblige the UK to keep paying into the joint EU budget and keeping the four freedoms - the free flow of people, goods, services and capital.
When it comes to commercial operations with the UK, Slovenian exporters are mostly concerned about the introduction of new regulations for products and services, new administrative barriers in trading with the country and customs duties which could increase prices and consequently reduce their competitiveness.
Businesses thus expect that the negotiations between the EU and UK be conducted in a constructive manner, in cooperation, under the principles of joint interests and, primarily, that they are transparent. What is most important for smooth operation of companies are stability and predictability of the European economy.
They meanwhile expect from the Slovenian authorities to take into account in the negotiations the actual concerns of businesses and to understand Brexit as an opportunity to help companies get promoted on the British market and in creating new business models.
The British-Slovenian Chamber of Commerce stressed that the economic cooperation between the two countries was of key importance, adding that it was making effort for bilateral trade, which last year reached EUR 900m, to increase to EUR 1bn.
The UK is one of the most open and innovative economies in the world, which is why it is important that the UK and EU reach a positive agreement that would not bring major changes or even additional burdens for businesses, it assessed.
The recommendations are based on a round table debate held on 23 June, which was the second out of the three planned round table debates as part of the Brexit Ambition initiative that the chamber established together with the "Evropa misli - Think Europe" institute.