European Industrial Deal

Antwerp 20 February 2024 |  During the European Industry Summit at BASF in Antwerp, co-organized by essenscia and the European chemicals federation Cefic, more than 70 international CEOs from nearly 20 industry sectors handed the “Antwerp Declaration for a European Industrial Deal” to Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday. With this Antwerp Declaration, the companies commit themselves to a sustainable industrial transition, but urgently call for a supportive industrial policy that makes European industry competitive and attractive for investment again.

The Industry Summit took place under the auspices of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, in the presence of Flemish Minister-President Jan Jambon. The closing event featured an interactive double discussion with Enrico Letta, the former Italian prime minister who is preparing an independent report on the future of the internal market at the behest of the European Council, and Jo Brouns, who, as Flemish Minister of Economy, temporarily chairs the European Council of Industry Ministers. On the eve of this European industry summit, essenscia organized a high-level dinner in Antwerp for the CEOs present, with Antwerp mayor Bart De Wever as guest speaker.