On 16 April, during the Business Transfer: Surfing the Wave of the Great Transition event organised by Eurochambres, Mr Jesús Casado, Secretary General of European Family Businesses (EFB), joined a high-level panel discussion hosted by Ben Butters, CEO of Eurochambres.

The discussion brought together key European policymakers and business leaders, including Vladimír Dlouhý, President of Eurochambres; Susana Alejandro Balet, CEO of the Saica Group; Outi Slotboom, Director for Supply Chains and Business Analysis at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs; Vladimir Prebilič, Member of the European Parliament; and Alberto Cirio, Chair of the Commission for Economic Policy of the Committee of the Regions and President of Italy’s Piedmont Region.

The panel focused on the upcoming European Commission Recommendation on Business Transfers, which will update the current 1994 Recommendation. Discussions emphasised the growing importance of ensuring smooth business transfer processes. This is especially important as Europe faces a significant wave of business transfers linked to increasing business owner retirements.

MEP Vladimir Prebilič underlined the vital role family businesses play in the economy and highlighted their innovative potential.

During the discussion, Mr Casado spoke of the importance of placing greater focus on intra-family business transfers. He noted that, in recent years, policy discussions have increasingly favoured the buying and selling of companies, often overlooking intra-family business transfers. He emphasised that intra-family transfers should be considered the first option rather than secondary to the buying and selling of companies.

Mr Casado also highlighted that intra-family business transfers help companies remain rooted in the regions where they were founded, supporting local economies and safeguarding regional employment.

In addition, some participants noted that next-generation leaders within family businesses are bringing renewed innovation to their companies.

As Europe approaches a significant increase in the number business transfers, with millions of jobs potentially affected, ensuring successful business transfers will be essential to maintaining competitiveness, economic stability, and regional cohesion across the EU.