A clean, just, and competitive European Industry

In a context of new industrial policies being developed by the European Commission, a shift in focus from the European Green Deal to competitiveness, and growing international geoeconomic tensions, it is essential to engage in constructive and multi-stakeholder discussions on industrial policy. 

Since the release of the Draghi report one year ago, competitiveness has become the main theme of the European Commission. However, the definition of competitiveness remains fuzzy and the narrative around it problematic. In the name of competitiveness, different initiatives are advanced that entail deregulation and backtracking on green commitments. In other cases, we see calls for channelling subsidies to large incumbent companies. While the Clean Industrial Deal seeks to bring together climate and competitiveness concerns, its implementation will face many challenges. 

The conference discussed the goals of the European industrial policy and explore the necessary combination of the clean, just and competitive dimensions. What is competitiveness and its role in achieving European policy objectives? How can industrial policies be shaped in a way that supports a just transition, including accelerated decarbonisation, workers’ rights and an enhanced quality of life and environment for all? What should be the EU’s goals and vision for trade, in coherence with its industrial policy and just transition?

To explore these questions, the policy conference brought together a wide array of speakers, from high-level political figures to trade union representatives, civil society experts and academic researchers. The conference proposed evidence-based analyses on the state and needs of the EU’s industrial policies, debates between political, industry and civil society representatives, and stimulating discussions on different topics such as decarbonisation, competitiveness, labour markets, trade and circularity. The programme included different formats: keynote speeches, panel discussions, presentations and smaller interactive sessions. 

Speakers included: 

• Bernd Lange, Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the Committee on International Trade
• Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, S&D MEP and Member of the Committee on International Trade
• Klara Dobrev, Member of the European Parliament
• Matthias Ecke, Member of the European Parliament
• Elizabeth Baltzan, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council, and former Senior Advisor to the US Trade Representative
• Jörg Wojahn, Head of Unit, Bilateral relations in Trade and Sustainable Development, European Commission
• Estelle Goeger, Member of Cabinet, Executive Vice President Séjourné, European Commission
• Florian Flachenecker, Taskforce Leader for the Circular Economy Act, DG Environment, European Commission
• Christophe Rouillon, Mayor of Coulaines, and Member of the PES group at the European Committee of the Regions
• Damian Murphy, Senior Vice President, National Security and International Policy, Center for American Progress (CAP)
• Axel Eggert, Director General, Eurofer 
• Lúcio Vinhas de Souza, Chief Economist, Business Europe
• Maria João Rodrigues, President, FEPS
• Claudia Detsch, Director, FES Just Climate
• Judith Kirton-Darling, General Secretary, IndustriAll 
• Lucie Studničná, President of the Workers Group, European Economic and Social Committee
• Luca Menesini, President of the PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions
• Isabelle Schömann, Deputy General Secretary, European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
• Ludovic Voet, Confederal Secretary, European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
• Ryan Mullholand, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress (CAP)
• Werner Raza, Director, Austrian Research Foundation for International Development (ÖFSE)
• Sören Borghardt, Senior Advisor, Stiftung Klimaneutralität
• Patrick Kaczmarczyk, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Mannheim
• Marine Courmont Lelieur, Head of European and International Affairs, Institut National de l’Economie Circulaire (INEC)
• Marie-Jeanne Gaertner, Environmental Policy Lead, Rreuse
• Chiara Antonelli, Head of Programme, Climate and Circular Economy, Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP)
• Marta Castilho, Professor of Economy, University Rio de Janeiro

The conference was organised by FEPS and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), in collaboration with the S&D Group in the European Parliament, PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), IndustriAll Europe, and SOLIDAR.

The morning sessions were supported by the FES Just Climate and Social Justice Competence Centre as part of the FEPS-FES “Clean, Just and Competitive Industrial Renewal (2025)” project, whereas the afternoon part was in partnership with the FES European Union & Global Dialogue | Brussels Office.

The event was public and livestreamed here. For further information, please have a look at the agenda and background notes.

For more information about this conference, please do not hesitate to contact Luis Sáez Jiménez, FEPS Project Officer (luis.saez@feps-europe.eu) or Vanessa Zwisele, FEPS Project Officer (vanessa.zwisele@feps-europe.eu).