WHAT IS THE EUROPEAN ATTRACTIVENESS SCOREBOARD?

Europe is the world’s largest market, with vast natural, technological and human resources. European countries compete strongly to attract investment that will maximise the potential of these resources. This competition is largely individual, with each government trying to lure investment locally. But France and Germany decided in 2005 to collaborate and sell all of Europe to foreign investors.

There is a strong economic logic to promoting Europe as a whole instead of as a collection of member states. Most countries in the area use the same currency, the euro, and by implication strive to develop and follow monetary and fiscal policies designed to ensure the safety and predictability of their money. But even where the euro is not used, European governments cooperate in other ways to enhance the common business environment. Laws, regulations, tax policies and infrastructure projects all intermingle to modernise the European marketplace.

Europe’s business, political and labour leaders understand that the European Union (EU) encompasses 27 countries – five hundred million people – with different needs to be satisfied and resources to offer. Investments that may not be ideally suited for France may find a home in Germany, Italy or one of our partner EU member states in Central Europe. Europe may become a “one stop shop” offering sophisticated investors a wide range of opportunities located in a safe, stable, modern economy. For this reason, and to help investors truly understand the investment potential of Europe, Invest in France and Invest in Germany created the “European Attractiveness Scoreboard”.

Prepared to rigorous academic standards, the scoreboard will be a dependable basis for promoting Europe as a business region. It consists of a selection of 56 objective indicators based on internationally recognised statistics.

 It was designed in collaboration with two of Europe’s top business schools, ESCP-EAP European School of Management, Berlin, and HEC School of Management, Paris. Professors Herwig Haase (ESCP-EAP) and Michael Segalla (HEC) agreed to review the new scoreboard using the highest academic standards to evaluate its objectivity and usefulness as a business tool. Both professors represent institutions that train the best managers in Europe. This offers international investors the assurance that these open, objective, and rigorous standards can be used with confidence.

The following factors, decisive for an international investor, are reviewed in the scoreboard:

• Market and business vitality
• Human resources
• Research and innovation
• Infrastructure
• Administrative environment
• Costs and taxation
• Energy and sustainable development
• Internet and ICT-readiness

The European Attractiveness Scoreboard shows how Europe is positioning itself compared with other leading world economies. Avoiding micro-regional analysis, it analyses the EU as whole and will better serve investors whose affiliates will be supported by the consolidated resources of the combined EU economies. Concentrating on the overall position of Europe helps avoid becoming distracted by individual problems unique to one or more regions within Europe. It helps focus the analysis of investment potential on the factors that are truly important to the success of an international investment. It makes Europe as a whole visible.

We believe this visibility will lead to a greater appreciation for the vibrant EU market among international investors, entrepreneurs and corporate executives considering new foreign investments. The European Attractiveness Scoreboard will be produced annually in order to track the development of the European economy.

Download The European Attractiveness Scoreboard

PDF format, 4.8MB, 71 Pages. Provided by Invest in Germany.

Europe: A land of dynamic investment opportunities

The European Union is making new headway in being a prime business destination for foreign investors.

Now the world’s leading market, Europe saw its market grow to over US$14 trillion in 2006, putting it in front of the United States, and well ahead of both China and India. Europe’s magnetism when it comes to foreign direct investment is strengthened further by its open borders, common euro currency and modern high-speed railways and highways – all of which facilitate the flow of doing business between EU countries.

We, the Invest in France and Invest in Germany agencies, have aligned to promote the dynamic business opportunities available in Europe, with a focus on attracting new foreign investors and a wider international talent pool. Based on joint research efforts conducted over the past year, we are launching an analytical tool entitled the European Attractiveness Scoreboard (EAS). The first initiative of its kind, the EAS benchmarks the EU as a whole against other leading world economies and offers a transparent, top-down perspective designed to help foreign enterprises improve their investment decisions.

We are touring China, Japan and India to meet with opinion leaders in an open discussion about the benefits of doing business in the EU, using the scoreboard to showcase Europe’s strengths and efficiencies in the domains of market and business vitality, human resources, research and innovation, infrastructure, administration, costs and taxation, energy and sustainable development, and technology.

When compared on an international scale, the EU stands out in a number of categories. The scoreboard lists Europe as a powerful player in the field of innovation, ranking it a global leader in scientific production and a top contender in world patents. Europe is also at the head of the telecommunications industry. It has the largest market and the highest number of mobile subscribers in the world, and is therefore well positioned for new forms of e-commerce. The EU is equally recognised for its competitive high-tech trade, which is more diversified than trade in the US thanks to its broad range of industrial clusters. A high rate of job creation related to foreign investment projects is another point that demonstrates Europe’s attractiveness.

Because of these advantages many international corporations from America and Asia, as well as from a growing number of emerging economies, are already investing in the European market. The EU is also attracting foreign companies with its reputation for generating high-quality products and services, and it will continue on this path to offer investors a unique added-value advantage.

Solid financial institutions and a strong currency – the euro is a key worldwide currency and represents one quarter of central bank reserves according to the International Monetary Fund – as well as a highly skilled workforce, which includes some of the world’s most talented scientists, researchers and technology experts, are also drawing investors to Europe.

In addition to being an attractive place to do business, and having overcome its historical differences, the EU today – and notably the relationship formed between France and Germany – can serve as a role model to other nations. Europe is a proven example that it is possible to integrate nations peacefully and, more importantly, that it can lead to a positive economy and political stability.

With a unified strategy in place, the door to the European Union is wide open and ready to welcome new foreign investors into a sophisticated and diverse business environment set for long-term success.

Philippe Favre
French Ambassador
Chairman and CEO of Invest in France Agency
Dr. Horst Dietz
Managing Director of Invest in Germany

Invest in France Agency (IFA) is the national body responsible for promoting, prospecting and facilitating of international investment in France. It also coordinates initiatives promoting the appeal and image of France. The IFA network operates worldwide, with offices in France at both national and local level. It draws on the expertise of specialists in a range of disciplines based at its head office in Paris, as well as in offices in North America, Europe and Asia.

In France, IFA works in partnership with regional development agencies to offer international investors outstanding business opportunities and customized services. Infos on www.investinfrance.org

Invest in Germany (IiG) is the federal investment promotion agency informing, assisting, and consulting foreign investors about investment opportunities in Germany. We provide full service support from site analysis to the implementation of investment decisions. Our industry teams study markets, supply information on structures and costs, and ensure professional guidance for successful business launches in Germany. Companies planning to establish or expand business operations in Germany can obtain detailed information on the legal and corporate investment framework, tax regulations, regional and federal financial support, and visa requirements.

IiG handles all investment information discreetly and confidentially and all services are free of charge. Investors can contact the IiG headquarters in Berlin or its offices in the US, Japan, and China.

Invest in France Agency
77, boulevard Saint-Jacques
F-75014 Paris - France
www.investinfrance.org
Tel: +33 1 44 87 17 17
Fax: +33 1 40 74 73 27

Invest in Germany Gmbh
Anna-Louisa-KarshStrasse 2
D-10178 Berlin - Germany
www.invest-in-germany.de
Tel: +49-(0)30-20657-0
Fax: +49-(0)30-20657-111

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