LONDON, April 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

A new survey by The European Business Awards, sponsored by RSM, involving business leaders from 32 countries across Europe shows strong support for the EU.

84% of European business leaders believe their country's membership of the EU has a positive impact on their business, 83% believe it has a positive impact on their country and 79% believe it has a positive impact on them personally. Furthermore, 67% believe they have a role to play in promoting the EU to their country's wider population.

The main reasons given in support of the EU were the economic advantages brought by membership, the competitive position a united Europe has against China, Russia and the US, and the importance of integration, stability and unity in the current climate. Costs and bureaucracy were the focus of the minority view.

Adrian Tripp, CEO of The European Business Awards, said: "These strong results show that for the European business community the case for the EU is clear; the benefits far outweigh the costs. From a business perspective, people see the value in the commercial opportunities; from a wider perspective, stability and integration are key."

He continued: "At the European Business Awards we see these benefits of the EU on a day to day, firm to firm, country to country basis. It creates economic opportunities, breaks down barriers and builds understanding. A united European business community is integral to a safer future for all of us."  

The survey conducted by The European Business Awards, Europe's largest business competition now in its 9^th year, and supported by RSM since its inception, also asked business leaders whether the UK should stay in the EU.  

The results show that 86% of European business leaders* think the UK should stay in the EU, with 11% saying the UK should leave. The survey also shows that the majority believe a UK exit would have a negative impact on all concerned.

84% of business leaders believe a UK exit would have a negative impact on the EU itself, 76% think it would have a negative impact on the UK economy, and 67% think it would have a negative impact on their own country's economy.

Of the respondees who think the UK should stay in the EU, 25% were from the UK.

Jean Stephens, CEO of RSM, the 7th largest network of independent audit, tax and advisory firms, said: "The Eurozone is the biggest trading partner for the United Kingdom and the potential impact of the UK exiting the EU would be highly significant to our clients around the world. This survey clearly shows that European and UK business leaders feel strongly that Europe must maintain its competitive edge in the global marketplace and that the UK's membership is key to doing so."

The European Business Awards' primary purpose is to support the development of a stronger and more successful business community throughout Europe. For further information about the European Business Awards and RSM please go to http://www.businessawardseurope.com or http://www.rsmi.com.

About the survey:  

• 437 European Business leaders from 32 European countries took part in this survey, including 124 from the UK, representing over 25 sectors with the heaviest representation coming from IT and Technology, Manufacturing and the FMCG sector.
• *Respondees were business heads of companies who have been recognized and rewarded by The European Business Awards, which has a strict criteria for entry in the fields of financial success, growth, ethics and innovation
• Sizes of companies ranged from SMEs to big multi-nationals.
• Detailed statistics and the written responses are available for use.
• 170 of the business leaders involved in the survey are available for comment.

About the European Business Awards:  

The European Business Awards' primary purpose is to support the development of a stronger and more successful business community throughout Europe.

For all of the citizens of Europe, our prosperity, social and healthcare systems are reliant on businesses creating an even stronger, more innovative, successful, international and ethical business community - one that forms the beating heart of an increasingly globalised economy.

The European Business Awards programme serves the European business community in three ways:

•    It celebrates and endorses individuals' and organisations' success

•    It provides and promotes examples of excellence for the business community to aspire to

•    It engages with the European business community to create debate on key issues

The European Business Awards is now in its 9^th year. It attracted over 24,000 businesses to the competition last year and in the public vote generated over 150,000 votes from across Europe.

http://www.businessawardseurope.com 

About RSM International  

RSM International is the 7th largest network of independent audit, tax and advisory firms, encompassing over 112 countries, 700 offices and 37,400 people internationally. The network's total fee income is US$4.4 billion. RSM is the 6th largest provider of tax services and audit and accounting services worldwide.

RSM International is the lead sponsor and corporate champion of the European Business Awards promoting commercial excellence and recognition of entrepreneurial brilliance.

RSM International is a member of the Forum of Firms. The objective of the Forum of Firms is to promote consistent and high quality standards of financial and auditing practices worldwide.

RSM is the brand used by a network of independent accounting and advisory firms each of which practices in its own right. RSM International Limited does not itself provide any accounting and advisory services. Member firms are driven by a common vision of providing high quality professional services, both in their domestic markets and in serving the international professional service needs of their client base. http://www.rsmi.com  

SOURCE The European Business Awards