Programme 2025

OPENING

Moderator: Ben Butters, CEO of Eurochambres

DRIVING SUSTAINABLE GROWTH: DELIVERING DECARBONISATION THROUGH A COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY

Scene-setter: Borys Budka, Chair of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, European Parliament (tbc)

A thriving business environment that promotes sustainable practices and innovation must build on clear and simple rules. European entrepreneurs need to be enabled to invest in new technologies in order to contribute to EU climate action and enhance circularity, not spending time, money, and human resources on filling in forms and reporting on their activities. Ensuring affordable energy and easier access to sustainable finance can certainly contribute to this aim.

Europe has historically built its global competitive advantage on its strong industrial base. However, this leadership has diminished due to high a variety of input and output related factors. With the growing risk of deindustrialization, EU institutions must establish the right framework to close the gap and ensure that European businesses continue to grow, create jobs and contribute to the development of the economy.

Simplification | Circularity | Affordable Energy | Sustainable Finance | Industrial Strategy | Innovation

Debate with MEPEs

Voting session

Reaction from Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, European Commission

SECURING EUROPE’S FUTURE: MARKET ACCESSIBILITY FOR GROWTH AND INVESTMENTS

Scene-setter: Anna Cavazzini, Chair of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, European Parliament

As Europe navigates an evolving economic landscape, it is essential that the full potential of the single market is harnessed. This session will consider how to drive growth and mitigate external economic pressures by strengthening the single market. Special attention will be given to targeted regulatory burden reduction measures and how these can foster a more agile business environment. From scaling up businesses to enhancing economic security, tackling regulatory burdens, or focusing on eliminating the barriers to the free movement of goods, services and people, business representatives will be able to reflect on key policies that shape Europe’s resilience and prosperity.

Participants will also explore how the EU budget can be strategically leveraged to improve liquidity and provide targeted financial support for businesses, particularly those seeking to expand across borders. Furthermore, it is crucial to prepare the EU candidate countries for their gradual integration into the single market. This will help align regulatory frameworks even before EU accession, ultimately benefiting both current and future member states.

Single Market | Free Movement | Scaling Up | EU Budget | Burden Reduction | Cross-Border Investment | Economic Security

Debate with MEPEs

Voting session

Reaction from Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, European Commission

SUCCEEDING GLOBALLY: EUROPE’S TRADE STRATEGY IN A CHANGING LANDSCAPE

Scene-setter: Jörgen Warborn, Member of the Committee on International Trade, European Parliament (tbc)

The Trump II term started with the imposition of a series of sweeping tariffs, not just on the EU but on countries around the world. This has upended the predictability of the multilateral rules-based trading system that the US itself, along with the European Union and several other countries, helped create. In a context of heightened instability and increasing geopolitical confrontation simultaneously spanning different countries and sectors, this session will try to highlight strategies for businesses to navigate a fractured and volatile global trading environment and explore how the EU can help companies in these difficult times.

Additionally, it will focus on enhanced cooperation between the business community in the EU and in the candidate countries/ neighbouring countries would facilitate their integration in the EU value chains and boost trade and investment relations between the EU, the candidate countries / neighbouring countries..

International Trade | Fragmentation | Protectionism | Internationalisation of SMEs | Economic Security

Debate with MEPEs

Voting session

Reaction from Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, European Commission (tbc)

CLOSING