Press Releases


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 ...

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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...

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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...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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Strengthening Europe’s Place in the World

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...

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Digital Transformation
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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...

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  • Press Release, Publication

Corporate leaders in Europe look ahead with cautious optimism

...and renewed faith in globalisation

Despite a strong resurgence of COVID-19 infections across the continent in September and October, industrial leaders in Europe are cautiously optimistic about business prospects as the new year approaches. The Conference Board ...

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Competitiveness & Innovation

Industrial leaders call out lack of implementation of the EU Industrial Strategy

ERT reiterates urgent need for implementation of EU Industrial Strategy and proposes 28 Key Performance Indicators to measure progress

BRUSSELS, 4 November 2020: Against a backdrop of increasing volatility in global trade, a cross-section of leaders¹ from some of Europe’s biggest multi-national companies issued a vehement call this morning for a more effective im...

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Jobs, Skills & Impact

ERT launches new toolkit to promote knowledge exchange in Inclusion & Diversity

Compendium & campaign bring together 25 initiatives by 20 companies

  The European Round Table for Industry (ERT) today releases a new toolkit of case studies to promote Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) from some of European industry’s biggest and best known brands, led by ERT Members. ...

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Digital Transformation

Latest analysis of 5G roll-out in Europe reveals slow progress

Deployment of 5G in Europe is being outpaced by other regions

  BRUSSELS, 18 SEPTEMBER 2020: As agitated geopolitics and disinformation cast a shadow on the deployment of 5G technology in various countries, the European Round Table for Industry (ERT) today releases an Assessment pape...

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Strengthening Europe’s Place in the World

European industrial leaders support the Next Generation EU recovery plan

As many European countries move to gradually reopen their economies, European corporate leaders today announced their support for European Commission (EC) President von der Leyen’s Next Generation EU recovery plan¹ unveiled recent...

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Competitiveness & Innovation

Top European corporate leaders hopeful of post-COVID rebound, but do not expect V-shaped recovery

As the COVID-19 crisis continues, ERT released the results of a economic confidence survey of its Members for H1 2020.

As the COVID-19 crisis continues, the results of a new survey of the leaders of some of Europe’s biggest industrial and technology companies released today, reveal new insights into the current levels of economic confidence and th...

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Strengthening Europe’s Place in the World

European industry playing a vital role in the fight against COVID-19

As the world grapples with the challenges of containing the COVID-19 outbreak and treating those already affected, some of the Europe’s best known multinationals have been actively engaged – donating medical resources and more, br...

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Jobs, Skills & Impact

Voluntary Targets 2020 Report on Women in Leadership Positions

Rising numbers of women in leadership roles in European industry, but more momentum needed

The European Round Table for Industry (ERT) has published updated figures for voluntary targets for women in leadership roles, set by 35 of its Member companies, together with a report on their progress towards achieving these tar...

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Competitiveness & Innovation

Europe’s Industrial Leaders call for urgent action as new report shows Europe falling behind globally

Industry leaders want to work with new EU leadership to deliver for citizens

BRUSSELS, 09 December 2019 – The leaders of Europe’s biggest multi-national companies have united to call for an ambitious new industrial strategy to put the region at the forefront of efforts to tackle the major challenges of the...

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Competitiveness & Innovation

Economic Confidence Survey – Autumn 2019

Economic confidence diminishing at Europe’s largest businesses, with competitiveness a major concern

Economic confidence among Europe’s largest industrial firms is falling amid geopolitical uncertainty and concern over the implications of international trade tensions - underlining the need for the new European Commission to take ...

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Strengthening Europe’s Place in the World

President Macron, Chancellor Merkel and President-elect von der Leyen meet ERT delegation in Toulouse

TOULOUSE - President Macron, Chancellor Merkel, European Commission President-elect von der Leyen and Members of the European Round Table for Industry (ERT) met in Toulouse today to discuss the best ways to enable a renewed long-t...

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  • Press Release

Robert O’Meara appointed to new Communications role at ERT

ERT announces the latest addition to its secretariat – Robert O’Meara has been appointed to the newly created role of Communications Director. ERT brings together CEOs and Chairs of Europe’s largest industrial companies, in sup...

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  • Press Release

European Business Leaders call for an EU Competition Policy fit for the global stage

BRUSSELS, 07 October 2019 - Leaders of some of Europe’s largest employers have today called for an EU competition policy which would allow European businesses to compete successfully at scale in today’s globalised and fast-moving ...

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Competitiveness & Innovation

Joint Statement for an ambitious Horizon Europe Programme

Research and Innovation

Building on our Joint Letter with Nobel laureates (click here), ERT and 90+ European associations representing key European research & innovation stakeholders, urge the EU Institutions to make research, development and innovat...

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Competitiveness & Innovation

Economic Confidence Survey – Spring 2019

Delivering 5G and support for new technologies must be top priority for new Commission say Europe’s largest businesses

The new European Commission should prioritise digitalisation and completing the delivery of 5G networks, say Europe’s largest businesses. As European leaders prepare to discuss the composition of the new Commission at this week...

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Trade & Market Access

Business leaders from U.S., Europe and Japan support a revitalized multilateral trade system

Washington, Brussels, Tokyo - In a joint statement, the U.S.-based Business Roundtable (BRT), the European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT) and KEIDANREN (Japan Business Federation) shared their support for the trilateral effor...

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Competitiveness & Innovation

Nobel laureates and business leaders urge for investment in EU research & innovation

Call for a minimum investment of €120 billion in Horizon Europe to maintain momentum

More than 20 Nobel Prize laureates and other international award winners have joined with over 40 leaders of Europe’s largest companies to urge political leaders across the EU to support an ambitious European research and innovati...

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Competitiveness & Innovation

Economic Confidence Survey – Autumn 2018

Business outlook more cautious amidst economic uncertainties

Brussels, 23 November 2018 – The ERT Industrial Confidence Index (ICI)[1]fell compared to 6 months ago but remains in positive territory, amidst increased uncertainties related to Brexit and global trade. The ICI meas...

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Jobs, Skills & Impact

European business leaders commit to inclusion and diversity pledge

#EmbraceDifference

More than fifty business leaders of some of Europe’s largest companies have today signed up to the first pan-European commitment of its kind, to promote inclusion and diversity in the workplace. This pledge highlights the suppo...

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  • Press Release

Frank Heemskerk appointed Secretary General of the European Round Table of Industrialists

The European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT) has appointed Frank Heemskerk as ERT Secretary General with effect from 1 January 2019. He will take over from Brian Ager who will retire in January after 8 years in the role. Fr...

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  • Press Release

Chancellor Merkel, President Macron and President Juncker meet the European Round Table of Industrialists

Chancellor Merkel, President Macron, European Commission President Juncker and Members of the European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT) met today at Schloss Meseberg near Berlin. ERT, whose Members include some of Europe’s l...

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Competitiveness & Innovation

Economic Confidence Survey – Spring 2018

European business leaders remain positive on the global business outlook and support multilateral trade negotiations

The second Economic Confidence Survey commissioned by the European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT) shows that Europe’s business leaders remain positive. The general business outlook slightly increased compared to October 2017,...

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Trade & Market Access

European business leaders urge for transatlantic dialogue on trade

The European Round Table deeply regrets the decision of the US administration to impose new tariffs on European steel and aluminium manufacturers. These duties will not only damage world trade, they will disrupt supply chains and ...

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  • Press Release

Carl-Henric Svanberg appointed Chairman of the European Round Table of Industrialists

Carl-Henric Svanberg, current Chairman of BP and AB Volvo, has been appointed Chairman of the European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT). Carl-Henric, a Member of the ERT since 2010, is one of Europe’s most experienced and re...

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Competitiveness & Innovation

Economic Confidence Survey – Autumn 2017

Leading European CEOs positive on global business outlook, but concerned about Brexit

Major European-based companies are positive about the global business outlook, according to a new survey commissioned by the European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT). The first ever ERT CEO Economic Confidence Survey, conducte...

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Trade & Market Access

Europe’s top industrialists hail EU-Japan trade deal

The European Round Table of Industrialists has praised today's EU-Japan outline trade deal as a boost for open, fair and free trade at a time of concern over the rise in protectionism. The ERT brings together more than 50 Chief Ex...

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Strengthening Europe’s Place in the World

Launch initiative “Why Europe Matters” for youth

New project to re-engage young people on why Europe matters

Europe will only overcome the current political crisis if the next generation of Europeans cares about the EU and is ready to engage to further advance the European project. A major new initiative labelled ‘Why Europe Matte...

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