Europe Needs Simpler Rules to Boost Business Growth and Global Competitiveness 

3 Jul 2025

EU Commissioner Michael McGrath Joins STEM South West at UCC for High-Level Dialogue on Economic Uncertainty, Democracy & Ireland’s Regional Future.

Europe must break down internal barriers and revive its global competitiveness, simplifying rules for business, scaling startups, and restoring stability in the €1.7 trillion EU-US trade relationship. This was the contention of European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection Michael McGrath, who spoke at a STEM South West Leaders’ Dialogue event in UCC on Friday.  

Amid a shifting global economic landscape and growing concerns about disinformation, data governance, and trade stability, the Commissioner gave his views on current challenges being addressed at the broader European level, the European economy and trade tensions, the new European Democracy Shield, GDPR and Consumer Protection. 

This wide-ranging fireside discussion on the EU’s policy direction and its implications for Ireland, particularly the South West region, was attended by leaders across the tech, pharma, science and engineering sectors together with representatives of higher education institutes, local authorities & government and the Southern Regional Skills Forum. STEM South West is a not-for-profit, industry-led cluster aimed at growing the South West’s STEM capacity. 

Hosted at University College Cork, the dialogue was led by Mary Good, Managing Director of Advanced Medical Services (AMS) and Chair of STEM South West. The conversation touched on the Commissioner’s current portfolio, which includes, rule of law, disinformation, and data protection, and offered a unique opportunity to explore how Europe can remain economically competitive and democratically resilient in an increasingly uncertain world. 

Commissioner Michael McGrath said: “A central priority of this Commission is to boost Europe’s global competitiveness and close the innovation gap with other major economies. To this end, we are simplifying EU rules and reducing administrative burdens on businesses. This drive for smarter regulation underpins initiatives such as the proposed 28th regime1, which I am leading on, and will encompass a single EU company legal form and the Startup and Scaleup Strategy, which together aim to create a more innovation-friendly business environment. 

Our ambition goes beyond making the business environment simpler and more competitive - we want it to be smarter and more creative. That means not only shaping the right regulatory frameworks, but also investing in the right skills. Through initiatives such as the STEM Education Strategic Plan2, we are equipping a new generation with the creativity and expertise needed to power Europe’s innovation economy and ensure our place as a global leader.” 

Speaking after the event, Mary Good, Chair of STEM South West, 

“We asked Commissioner McGrath how the South West can better position itself for resilience and relevance. He highlighted the strength of our STEM ecosystem, but also stressed the need to deepen collaboration with Europe on the STEM Education Strategic plan and build dialog between all stakeholders.”  

Key themes in the STEM South West discussion included: 

• The EU’s evolving strategy on disinformation and foreign interference through the European Democracy Shield 
• Consumer protection and innovation 
• The need for sustainability policy clarity, especially in light of greenwashing concerns, where the Commissioner identified the 12M packages coming into the EU zone daily as sources of real sustainability and competitive challenges. 
• Ireland’s response to global shocks and the question of whether the country is now in “crisis management mode” 

The event concluded with questions from the audience, touching on European rule of law, Ukraine, democratic resilience, and Ireland’s place in shaping the Union’s future direction. 

Ms. Good described the event as “timely, constructive and insightful.” 

“Today was about more than policy, it was a chance to directly connect regional STEM leaders with European decision-making at the highest level. We believe dialogues like this are essential for equipping our members, and our region, to thrive in a fast-changing world.”