ERT Plenary in Gothenburg brings together European business leaders, with participation of Kristersson, Modi and von der Leyen
Gothenburg, 18 May 2026: Nearly 50 leaders of major European companies gathered in Gothenburg, Sweden yesterday and today, for the annual spring plenary of the European Round Table for Industry (ERT). Hosted by Martin Lundstedt, CEO of Volvo Group and chaired by ERT Chair, Jean-François van Boxmeer, the high-level meeting brought together CEOs and Chairs (the Members of ERT) from a wide range of industries to discuss various topics including EU policy and the ongoing shift in intercontinental geopolitics.
Across a number of themed sessions, the meeting was honored with interventions from many distinguished speakers, including the Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, and the H.E. Narenda Modi Prime Minister of India in the presence of HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. The gathering was also honored by an exchange of views with European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen.
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The plenary addressed the following issues:
- Innovation: with Europe’s capacity to innovate and enable scale such a frontline topic for business and policymakers, a dedicated session yielded insights from scale-ups in digital/AI, energy/green transition and defence. ERT is grateful to Arthus Mensch from Mistral AI, Nicholas Loughlan of Cellcentric and Tobias Billström of Nordic Air Defence for their participation.
- Trade: the landmark speech from Prime Minister Modi and the exchange of views with Prime Minister Kristersson and President von der Leyen afforded the topic of trade relations ample room during this Plenary. Reflections on the shifting sands of geopolitics, the room for response by Middle Powers working in partnership and the to the EU’s ambitious bilateral trade agenda and the need for them to be closely tied to the EU’s industrial strategy.
- EU competitiveness agenda: In this important year in the mandate of the second von der Leyen Commission, there was a frank exchange of views with President von der Leyen on the rollout of some key policy initiatives including the One Europe, One Market roadmap, the Simplification omnibus packages, the competitiveness fund and the Industrial Accelerator Act.
- Navigating the energy shock: The unique mix of leaders of energy-intensive industrial companies and energy-producing companies, facilitated informed dialogue on the effects and implications of the evolving energy shock on European industry and the green transition.
With its 60-strong membership of CEOs and Chairs of some of Europe’s most significant industrial and technology companies operating worldwide, ERT has a global view on Europe’s competitive place in the world, vis-à-vis other regions – and on the policy steps that are needed to restore confidence in Europe as a place to invest in.
This meeting continues ERT’s longstanding tradition of high level engagement with European institutions and Heads of State & Government within and beyond Europe. Such meetings are the occasion to highlight cross-sectoral industry priorities¹ for Europe’s pro-competitiveness strategy. Europe’s industry is a major contributor to economic growth, employment, innovation and infrastructure.
The names of the CEOs & Chairs in ERT’s Membership who attended this Plenary is available here.
Message on the passing of Viscount Etienne Davignon
It is with much sadness that ERT has learned of the passing of Viscount Etienne Davignon. He was present at the foundational moment of ERT in April 1983 in his capacity as the European Commissioner for Industry at the time. Later, when he worked in business, he became a Member of ERT from 1986 to 2001. His extraordinary ability to connect with others and nurture European partnership had a long lasting impact. Our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.
ENDS
Note to Editors:
A full list of the Membership of ERT is accessible here.
¹ Visit ERT’s Single Market section, featuring stories, technical analyses and links to the Single Market coalition-led compendium of 100+ obstacles here.
This has been an extraordinary spring plenary, with an exceptional line-up of guest speakers and working sessions. Our sincere thanks to Martin and the team at Volvo Group. It has also been a perfectly-timed opportunity to revisit ERT’s original connection with Gothenburg, the birthplace of the very first ERT Chair, Pehr Gyllenhammar, who led the organisation’s efforts to call for the creation of the Single Market¹ in the 1980s. Fittingly, we find ourselves urging the delivery of its next iteration: the One Europe, One Market roadmap. Now, just as then, there is no time to lose. Europe’s continued relevance and prosperity relies on swift implementation.
In its role as a consensus builder between Europe’s industrial & technological leaders, ERT is the centrepoint of dialogue between business and policymakers – and the leadership at Volvo has been proud to be part of that since the very start. At such a complex and delicate time in geopolitics and international business, it has been an honour to host this ERT Plenary – and showcase some Swedish know-how as well. As we all know, European industry is not short of expertise and innovative ideas. But if we want to claim our place in the next industrial era, it must become easier to deploy and scale, not just invent. Only then does innovation really turn into the competitiveness that secures our prosperity.