A More Competitive Europe

Your article “EU to identify lagging economic sectors” (Nov. 20) discussed a European conference where 23 sectors of the European economy were identified as “malfunctioning.” Many of the solutions proposed included exporting European regulations to other nations. But perhaps Europeans should blame their own regulations for economic “malfunction” and not foreign competitors.

Instead of trying to apply burdensome European regulations to other nations, maybe Europe should try deregulation. Competitiveness doesn't just mean hurting one's competition, it means improving oneself. For years, Europe's chief product has been red-tape. A real economy cannot thrive with so much bureaucratic output.

Bureaucrats can't foster competitiveness with regulations. True competition can only arise when entrepreneurs and consumers are free to choose for themselves in a market with as little regulation as possible. Bureaucrats must remain unproductive for economies to become competitive.