The business case for staying in the EU are contentious and controversial. Easy, guaranteed access to European markets is crucially important for some firms, and for the economy at large. At the same time, many firms feel overburdened by European legislation.
New research from the CBI shows that a remarkable 77 per cent of SMEs favour staying in the EU. The poll was conducted by Yougov, who spoke to firms of all sizes and found that just ten per cent favoured leaving (11 per cent of SMEs). Of SMEs, 67 per cent felt it had a directly positive overall impact on their firm. John Cridland, CBI Director-General, says: “This sends a clear message that most CBI members, big and small, support UK membership of the EU. Firms want what is best for jobs and growth, and there is genuine concern that an exit would hit business investment and access to the world’s largest trading bloc.” The survey did find some issues though. Two fifths of all businesses surveyed said they wanted to see reduced regulation, and more than third want to see structural reforms to make the EU more competitive. Half said they expected the regulatory burden to lessen if Britain left. Cridland adds: “Businesses do have some serious concerns about the EU, but ultimately they want the UK inside the tent winning the argument for reform.” Image source
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.