BRUSSELS should put competitiveness at the heart of the draft European constitution, according to Digby Jones, director-general of the CBI.

Just days before the UK Independence Party made strides in the European elections, the outspoken boss of bosses denounced the draft constitution for its failure to mention the one thing that was vital to the prosperity of Europe.

Speaking to hundreds of Kent and South East business leaders at the CBI regional annual dinner, he claimed that Brussels bureaucrats failed to understand the increasingly global threat to European industry and commerce. It should be looking for the best examples in Europe and urging others to copy them.

"Why isn't Brussels driving people in Europe to learn from the best in class and say: ‘Do it that way’? The 450m people in the EU deserved better than that. We have to equip you to be able to take on the world," he told 500 captains of industry and their guests. At the moment, he was worried about the attitude of Brussels.

Britain, which he claimed was the greatest trading nation on earth "by a mile", had set a European lead in the flexibility of its labour market. That was why the UK had the lowest unemployment rate in Europe.

"France and Germany have the most rigid labour markets in Europe and – surprise surprise - the highest unemployment."

But not everything was bad about Europe. For example, Britain could learn from the superb education system in France and the superior approach to infrastructure projects in Germany.

In a passionate 30-minute speech, he condemned the media's negative portrayal of business. He had even written to the scriptwriters of Coronation Street complaining that killer Richard Hillman was a businessman. Why not a trade unionist or a local government official? He had been told: "Because everyone hates business people."

Yet business created the wealth that paid for the schools, roads and hospitals. "If it wasn't for you, there would be no public services and we have got to sing this from the rooftops."

He claimed that the public sector was driving up inflation. But wage rises for teachers, nurses and police had to be matched by productivity increases. "More bobbies on the beat should not mean 15,000 people in the back office," he said.

Former political reporter John Sergeant wound up the black tie event at the Copthorne Hotel, Effingham Park, near Gatwick, with a humorous account of his encounters with Prime Minister Tony Blair and predecessors John Major and Margaret Thatcher.