Confindustria-BDI-MEDEF issue an urgent appeal to the EU: Risk of industrial decline

Rome – The presidents of the three leading European industrial organisations – Emanuele Orsini (Confindustria), Peter Leibinger (BDI), and Patrick Martin (MEDEF) – issued a joint declaration urging the European institutions to accelerate their pace in industrial policies, on the occasion of the 7th Trilateral Forum between Confindustria, BDI, and MEDEF, held in Rome with the participation of European Commission Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné.

“Today, Europe stands at a crossroads. The world is being reshaped—and Europe cannot stay on the sidelines. Now more than ever, Europe must assert its independence,
protecting its security and taking leadership of technologies that are vital to our strategic interests,” reads the text signed by organisations representing entrepreneurs from the top three economies of the European Union. 

Confindustria, BDI and MEDEF sound the alarm: “It
is time to recognise that Europe is seriously lagging behind and that the risk of decline and deindustrialisation in the EU
is greater than ever. It is time for Europe to take a decisive, quantum step forward, in line with the measures identified by the
Draghi and Letta Reports, to strengthen Europe’s industrial resilience and strategic autonomy, bridge the competitiveness gap in
key manufacturing value chains, and drive research and innovation.” To reverse the course, the three organisations “call upon EU institutions and Member States to act urgently,” according to six strategic priorities to boost competitiveness and strengthen the continent’s economic sovereignty. 

First priority: act decisively to advance the EU simplification agenda launched with the Omnibus; 

Second priority: making decarbonisation a genuine driver of competitiveness by combining reduced energy costs,
realistic targets, and fully technology-neutral policies; 

Third priority: securing Europe’s technological sovereignty and reducing strategic dependencies through a holistic
approach; Fourth priority: financing Europe’s industrial future and aligning the future EU budget with the competitiveness needs,
recognizing the strategic role of R&I; 

Fifth priority: Towards a competitive and independent Europe in life sciences: defining an ambitious strategy for the future; 

Sixth priority: Boosting Europe’s defence industrial base: tackling market fragmentation and strengthening investment to
close capability gaps.

Planning the Future of Europe

The months ahead “represent a defining moment for Europe to reaffirm its role on the global stage. The actions outlined above are crucial to restoring competitiveness and fostering sustainable growth across the continent. These initiatives are crucial to restoring competitiveness and fostering sustainable growth across the continent. These initiatives are equally
fundamental to safeguarding the European Union’s security and its credibility as a global power capable of defending its territory
and democratic values. Without decisive implementation, Europe risks diminishing its influence in the global economy, while
economic pressures could undermine the very foundations of its social model and welfare systems,” the document states. 

“Competitiveness must become Europe’s guiding principle—the compass for every policy, every regulation, every investment,” the document concludes.