Press Releases

• Press Release
• Securing Europe’s Place in a New World Order

Leaders of Europe’s top companies commit to restoring EU competitiveness by backing full implementation of Draghi and Letta reports

Madrid, 18 November 2024: The European Round Table for Industry (ERT) met in Madrid yesterday and today for its annual autumn plenary. Hosted by José-María Álvarez-Pallete, Chairman & CEO of Telefónica and chaired by ERT Chair...

• Press Release
• Securing Europe’s Place in a New World Order

ERT gathers in Madrid

Madrid, 17 November 2024: The European Round Table for Industry (ERT) gathers in Madrid today and tomorrow for its annual autumn Plenary Meeting. The meeting is hosted by José-María Álvarez-Pallete, CEO of Telefónica coinciding wi...

• Press Release
• Jobs, Skills & Impact

R4E unveils new AI-enriched chapter in the Reskilling revolution: the New Career Network

24 October 2024, Brussels, Lisbon, Madrid: Four years into the Reskilling for Employment (R4E*) initiative, today marks the launch of the latest development in ERT’s efforts to build a better reskilling culture in Europe. Portu...

• Press Release
• Securing Europe’s Place in a New World Order

ERT: Draghi’s antidote to “the slow agony of decline” is ambitious and doable, Member States must play their part

Brussels, 9 September 2024: In unveiling his much awaited diagnosis for European competitiveness earlier today, Professor Mario Draghi has conducted a serious and comprehensive review of the EU’s place in the world – and puts the ...

• Press Release
• Securing Europe’s Place in a New World Order

Anthony Gooch Gálvez appointed Secretary General of the European Round Table for Industry (ERT)

Brussels, 5 September 2024: The European Round Table for Industry is delighted to announce the appointment of Anthony Gooch Gálvez as its new Secretary General, the sixth in its 41-year history. 1 2 A dual Spani...

• Position Paper, Press Release
• Competitiveness & Innovation

Europe’s next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10) needs a major upgrade

Brussels, 19 July 2024: In the latest of a series of actions highlighting concerns for Europe’s competitiveness, the European Round Table for Industry (ERT) today issues a new paper addressing the importance of EU action to suppor...

• Press Release
• Securing Europe’s Place in a New World Order

ERT congratulates President von der Leyen on securing a second term as European Commission President

BRUSSELS, 18 July 2024: Following today’s European Parliament vote in support of a second term for European Commission President von der Leyen, the European Round Table for Industry (ERT) congratulates the President. ERT recognise...

• Press Release
• Competitiveness & Innovation

Confidence rebounds among European business leaders, yet their prospects are better outside Europe

Business confidence among Europe’s CEOs & Chairs returns to its highest level since May 2022 CEOs concerned that Europe-China bilateral relations will continue to deteriorate, reflecting several friction points CEOs crys...

• Press Release
• Jobs, Skills & Impact

ERT embraces difference with a new toolkit for workplace inclusion and diversity

BRUSSELS, 15 April 2024: Company culture has become a major differentiator. Companies are increasingly measured on how they value diversity and inclusion and create work environments where every individual feels appreciated, respe...

• Press Release
• Energy Transition & Climate Change

Europe’s energy transition: ERT releases analysis on the EU’s competitiveness for energy-intensive industries and state of energy infrastructure

New ERT reports by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) lay out the state of play and articulate the challenges in Europe’s energy transition

Brussels, 9 April 2024: As the countdown continues to the European elections and appointment of the next European Commission later this year, the European Round Table for Industry (ERT) releases two reports focusing on the state o...

• Press Release, Publication
• Competitiveness & Innovation

An ice-bath for EU leaders. Competitiveness is crumbling: Europe’s business case needs a rebuild

BRUSSELS, 18 March 2024: As the clock ticks down to the European elections in June and Professor Mario Draghi’s upcoming report on Europe’s Competitiveness, the European Round Table for Industry (ERT) today releases its 2024 Compe...

• Press Release
• Energy Transition & Climate Change

Major industrial leaders meet at COP to report on green transition and pathway to a sustainable future

Dubai, 3 December 2023: The European Round Table for Industry (ERT) brings its voice to the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Dubai this week, as leader...

• Press Release
• Competitiveness & Innovation

CEO confidence withers in Europe as regulation weighs down competitiveness

Europe’s corporate leaders pessimistic about prospects of short-term recovery in Europe

Brussels, 15 November 2023: Business confidence among CEOs and Chairs of many of Europe’s largest companies has fallen back into negative territory, reflecting current economic conditions and the weight of complex regulation on pr...

• Press Release, Publication
• Securing Europe’s Place in a New World Order

ERT Vision Paper: Europe’s corporate leaders call for renewed EU integration as focus for EU from here to 2030

Brussels, 26 October 2023: As many in the EU policy sphere look to prepare the ground for next year’s European Parliamentary elections and new European Commission, the European Round Table for Industry releases its Vision Paper to...

• Press Release
• Jobs, Skills & Impact

European Reskilling initiative R4E gathers key partners in Gothenburg

Gothenburg, 17 October 2023: Today, experts from all over Europe in HR, public affairs, education and communication are gathering for a two-day workshop in Gothenburg. The meeting is organised by Reskilling 4 Employment (R4E), a r...

• Press Release
• Jobs, Skills & Impact

Reskilling initiative R4E: gaining traction in the European Year of Skills

Brussels, 9 June 2023: As human resources experts and policymakers gather in Brussels for the Making Skills Count conference marking the onset of the European Year of Skills, ERT’s initiative Reskilling 4 Employment (R4E) is celeb...

• Press Release
• Competitiveness & Innovation

Business confidence stabilises, but Europe’s competitiveness is on the decline

CEO Confidence returns to positive territory, but Europe’s competitiveness as a base for industry is weakening

Brussels, 23 May 2023: Today’s report reveals the latest sentiments for the economic and business outlook among European business leaders and reflects the challenges facing companies in Europe across a range of sectors. The Con...

• Press Release, Statement
• Securing Europe’s Place in a New World Order

ERT gathers in Dublin, meets Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Paschal Donohoe, President of the Eurogroup

DUBLIN, 22 May 2023: The European Round Table for Industry (ERT) met in Dublin yesterday and day, as part of its semi-annual meetings. This year’s spring meeting, hosted by Tony Smurfit, CEO of Smurfit Kappa Group, brought togethe...

• Press Release, Publication
• Competitiveness & Innovation

European industrial & technology leaders share ideas for boosting innovation made in Europe

BRUSSELS, 27 March 2023: As the European Union finds itself balancing technological change, fierce global competition and increasingly delicate geopolitics, it has become all too clear that those who lead in innovation also take t...

• Press Release, Statement
• Securing Europe’s Place in a New World Order

ERT delegation meets Prime Minister Sánchez

MADRID, 14 March 2023: With the upcoming Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union due in the second half of this year, Members of the European Round Table for Industry (ERT) met with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in ...

• Press Release, Statement
• Securing Europe’s Place in a New World Order

ERT delegation meets Prime Minister Kristersson and EC President von der Leyen in Stockholm

STOCKHOLM, 3 March 2023: Under Sweden’s current Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Prime Minister Kristersson, European Commission President von der Leyen and Members of the European Round Table for Industry (ERT) me...

• Press Release
• Jobs, Skills & Impact

Reskilling initiative R4E gathers in Porto to map out a busy year of expansion

Porto, 8 February 2023: Today and tomorrow, human resources, training, public affairs and communications experts from across Europe meet in Porto – all involved in the Reskilling 4 Employment (R4E) programme – for a meeting hosted...

• Expert Paper, Press Release
• Digital Transformation

European industry shares its learnings & recommendations on flexible working

Brussels, 13 December 2022: As the world continues to adjust to the new working patterns that emerged during the Covid pandemic, ERT today releases a new paper, aimed at sharing knowledge and best-practices on the subject of flexi...

• Press Release
• Digital Transformation

ERT welcomes Council position on AI

Brussels, 6 December 2022: Earlier this year, the European Commission presented a proposal laying down harmonised rules on Artificial Intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act). ERT supports its vision of creating trustworthy art...

• Press Release
• Trade & Market Access

ERT optimistic for progress in third EU and U.S. TTC meeting

In advance of today’s Trade & Technology Council (TTC) meeting in Washington DC, European business leaders expresses their support for its objectives and faith in the ability of the TTC to deliver progress. The European Round T...

• Press Release
• Competitiveness & Innovation

CEO confidence drops to an all-time low in H2 2022

Pessimism dominates, but European business leaders hold firm on green transition investments

Brussels, 23 November 2022: The results of a new survey released today reveal the latest sentiments for the economic and business outlook among European business leaders and reflect the challenges facing some of Europe’s most sign...

• Press Release, Statement
• Securing Europe’s Place in a New World Order

ERT delegation meets President Macron in Paris

PARIS, 22 November 2022: A delegation of Members of the European Round Table for Industry (ERT) met with President Macron in Paris yesterday evening, also joined by Thierry Breton, EU Commissioner for the Internal Market. ERT M...

• Press Release
• Jobs, Skills & Impact

ERT brings experts together in Madrid, to intensify work on reskilling in Europe

Madrid, 5 July 2022: This week, Madrid plays host to an important meeting of experts in reskilling – with representations of companies and organisations involved in the Reskilling 4 Employment (R4E) programme gathering for a meeti...

• Press Release, Publication
• Competitiveness & Innovation

ERT highlights the gap between EU visions and realities as geopolitics puts competitiveness in the spotlight

BRUSSELS, 15 June 2022: At the Competitive Europe Summit in Brussels today, Dr Martin Brudermüller, Chair of ERT’s Committee for Competitiveness & Innovation and Chairman & CEO of BASF SE, announced ERT’s latest report, Be...

• Press Release
• Securing Europe’s Place in a New World Order

Jean-François van Boxmeer succeeds Carl-Henric Svanberg as Chair of ERT

BRUSSELS, 25 May 2022: At the ERT Plenary in Copenhagen earlier this week, the Members of ERT elected a new Chair of the organisation for a two-year term: Jean-François van Boxmeer, current Chairman of Vodafone Group. The 6...

• Press Release
• Competitiveness & Innovation

Falling optimism, but European business leaders’ investment intentions remain even as economic impact of war bites

Brussels, 24 May 2022:  A new report released today reveals the latest sentiments for the economic and business outlook among European business leaders and reflects the challenges facing some of Europe’s most significant companies...

• Press Release, Statement
• Securing Europe’s Place in a New World Order

ERT delegation meets President Macron, Chancellor Scholz, President von der Leyen and President Michel in Paris

PARIS, 1 March 2022: President Macron, Chancellor Scholz, European Commission President von der Leyen, European Council President Michel and a delegation of Members of the European Round Table for Industry (ERT) met in Paris yeste...

• Press Release
• Jobs, Skills & Impact

ERT’s reskilling initiative moves up a gear with R4E website launch

R4E is now up and running in Portugal, Spain and Sweden with national websites connecting workers with opportunities

BRUSSELS, 17 February 2022: The new year has kicked off in earnest for the Reskilling for Employment initiative (R4E) with the launch of a dedicated website. R4E is now up and running in Portugal, Spain and Sweden with national we...

• Press Release, Publication
• Competitiveness & Innovation

Europe’s industrial & technology leaders kick off campaign, calling for renewed integration to strengthen the EU Single Market

Nearly forty years after its first call for the Single Market, ERT launches a new campaign, with analysis, recommendations & 30 stories by leaders

BRUSSELS, 7 December 2021: As the European Union is actively pursuing feedback from citizens through its ongoing Conference on the Future of Europe, this morning the leaders of some of Europe’s most prominent global companies weig...

• Press Release, Publication
• Competitiveness & Innovation

Economic confidence among Europe’s industrial leaders cools as supply chain issues, inflation cloud the horizon

Latest survey of ERT Members by the Conference Board on economic confidence, inflation risks, climate legislation and the EU Single Market

BRUSSELS, 24 November 2021: A new report released today reveals the latest sentiments among the CEOs and Chairs in Europe, for the economic and business outlook, while also flagging some potential risks on the horizon. The Conf...

• Press Release, Statement
• Securing Europe’s Place in a New World Order

Conclusions of the ERT Plenary of European business leaders in Bilbao

BILBAO, 22 November 2021: Following several significant summits (G20, COP26) in the past weeks, the past two days saw Bilbao play host to the European Round Table for Industry’s (ERT) twice yearly meeting of business leaders. E...

• Press Release, Publication
• Trade & Market Access

Europe’s industrial leaders share their view on how to make Open Strategic Autonomy work

BRUSSELS, 5 JULY 2021: As optimism grows in Europe for a rapid post-pandemic recovery, Europe’s industrial leaders today release a new publication addressing trade policy in an altered global landscape. Informed by independent ...

• Press Release
• Competitiveness & Innovation

Europe’s industrial leaders look to post-COVID economy with surging confidence and a watchful eye on trade risks

BRUSSELS, 19 MAY 2021: A new report released today reveals significant optimism among the CEOs and Chairs in Europe, for the economic and business outlook, while also flagging some potential risks on the horizon. The Conference...

• Press Release
• Jobs, Skills & Impact

ERT announces new initiative to stimulate reskilling and boost human capital in the EU

PORTO, 7 MAY 2021: As the Porto Social Summit* takes place today under the Portuguese Presidency of the European Council, the European Round Table for Industry (ERT) announces a new pan-European training initiative called Reskilli...

• Press Release, Publication
• Digital Transformation

Europe’s industrial leaders spell out key performance indicators for the EU’s digital transformation

BRUSSELS, 3 MAY 2021: Following the launch of the European Commission’s Digital Compass in March, corporate leaders from across the industrial & technological landscape have weighed in with their position on the EU’s approach ...

• Press Release, Publication
• Jobs, Skills & Impact

Voluntary Targets 2021 Report on Women in Leadership Positions

Wanted: More women in leadership roles in European industry

  BRUSSELS, 5 MARCH 2021 - The European Round Table for Industry (ERT) today publishes updated targets for the advancement of women in 38 industrial and technology companies headquartered in Europe - as well as figures on ...

• Press Release
• Securing Europe’s Place in a New World Order

ERT launches podcast series “21st Century Industrialists”

  BRUSSELS, 8 FEBRUARY 2021: The European Round Table for Industry (ERT), today launches a podcast entitled 21st Century Industrialists, a series of one-to-one interviews with the leaders some of Europe’s best known indust...

• Press Release
• Digital Transformation

Joint Statement on Safeguarding Data Flows

• Press Release, Publication
• Energy Transition & Climate Change

Europe’s industrial leaders voice their support for EU climate goals and share ideas to empower transition

To achieve the green & digital transitions, alignment of major strands of energy politics and industrial competitiveness will be needed

  Support of European industrialists comes during a critical week for the EU as a 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target is on agenda of EU Summit ERT’s endorsement of the Green Deal net-zero target is a strong signal f...