Representing the Renew Europe Now platform, Sandro Gozi highlighted the EU Single Market as the “greatest liberal success in Europe” at the Bruegel-Financial Times debate on EU economics.

The event held in Brussels on 21 May entitled “Economic choices for Europe: EU leadership debate 2024” pitted Gozi against Ursula von der Leyen (EPP), Nicolas Schmit (PES) and Anders Vistisen (ID).

The four lead candidates from European political families for the European elections in June were quizzed on three main topics: competitiveness and the Single Market, economic security, and EU budget.

BRUEGEL x FINANCIAL TIME DEBATE 🇪🇺

We need to adapt the single market to our SMEs.

Less paperwork, easier access to capitals, this is how we will bring the benefits of the single market to European citizens. pic.twitter.com/0o1lpbPadk

— Sandro Gozi (@sandrogozi) May 21, 2024

Gozi focused on the need for Europe to regain its competitive edge and summed up Renew Europe Now’s position in three key words: defence, market and reform.

“We want more of the Single Market on energy, telecoms, data, financial services. We want to adapt the single market to the needs of 98% of the EU economy, which is small and medium enterprises, and allow all citizens living on internal borders to fully benefit from the Single Market,” said Gozi.

“We have to put the European Parliament and the European Council on an equal footing when we decide on the future of the budget. But we must be open to treaty reform to shape the future with all the power we need.

“This is the age of power politics in the world. So either you are given power or out of politics, and we have to give ourselves power: we have to become a military power, an industrial power."

📣 Thrilled to debate @Bruegel_org !

Highlights:

🏭 We need a real EU sovereignty fund, but the EPP has failed to deliver.

‼️Free trade, yes; unfair trade, no.‼️

🛡️ Strengthening European defense.

🇪🇺 Embracing a Sovereignty Union for global success! pic.twitter.com/i1uaBHbN6F

— Sandro Gozi (@sandrogozi) May 21, 2024

Gozi will represent the Renew Europe Now platform at the upcoming EBU debate on 23 May. Click here to find out more.