Press Releases


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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  • Press Release

Robert O’Meara appointed to new Communications role at ERT

The European Round Table for Industry 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 la...

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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

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 (bit.ly/2PjsEKk), ERT and 90+ European associations representing key European research & innovation stakeholders, urge the EU Institutions to make research, development and inn...

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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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Trade & Market Access

Time is tight to avoid a no-deal Brexit

ERT meets UK Prime Minister Theresa May

We appreciate today’s exchange with Prime Minister Theresa May on the status of the Brexit negotiations. The European Round Table of Industrialists continues to support both the EU and the UK in finding an agreement. We are concer...

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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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