The World Economic Forum launches Leaders for European Growth and Competitiveness to strengthen Europe’s economic trajectory amid a shifting global landscape.
- The initiative targets four core enablers: tech competitiveness, clean and affordable energy and industry, financial markets and strategic international partnerships.
- Over 70 cross-sector leaders back an ambitious push for critical structural reforms.
Brussels, 2 July 2025 — More than 70 high-level leaders convened in Brussels yesterday for the launch of Leaders for European Growth and Competitiveness. Led by the World Economic Forum, the new initiative will mobilize public-private collaboration to turn ambition into action – by tackling the fragmented markets, high energy costs and technology investment gaps affecting Europe’s economic and industrial performance.
Leaders for European Growth and Competitiveness builds on momentum from the 2025 Annual Meeting in Davos and aligns closely with the EU’s Competitiveness agenda. With Europe at a critical inflection point, the initiative unites a diverse group of leaders around the shared aim of accelerating structural reforms and creating a pro-innovation environment to unlock long-term growth, productivity and resilience across the region.
“Leaders for European Growth and Competitiveness provides a unique platform, bringing together the diverse cross-sector expertise vital to Europe’s long-term prosperity,” said Børge Brende, President and CEO, World Economic Forum. “Through concerted cooperation on targeted structural reforms, it aims to unlock growth, foster innovation and ensure Europe remains resilient and competitive amid shifting global conditions.”
To deliver impact, the initiative will be framed around four priority pillars, each co-chaired by key policy-makers:
Shaping the “Intelligent Age” – Geared towards fast-tracking the development and adoption of key emerging technologies and scaling the region’s innovation ecosystem through improved policy and investment conditions.
Pillar co-chair Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, European Commission said:
“To lead in the ‘Intelligent Age’ and remain competitive and sovereign, Europe must embrace the AI and digital revolutions, enhance investment in critical technologies and supercomputing infrastructure, and improve the conditions for innovation and businesses in Europe. It will be critical to empower our best researchers and innovative companies to forge a future where innovation serves as the bedrock of our shared prosperity and global competitiveness. This is about ensuring Europe’s resilience, independence, and leadership in the defining technological advancements of our time.”
Accelerating clean and competitive energy and industry – Aimed at driving regional clean industrial growth and economic performance by ensuring a robust supply of and demand for clean energy, and by advancing the transformation and decarbonization of heavy industry.
Pillar co-chair Wopke Hoekstra, Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, European Commission said: “I’m excited to be a part of this initiative to drive clean industrial growth and economic competitiveness in the EU. By working together, we can bring down energy costs, make our industry more resilient and succeed with a decarbonized economy. I count on clear commitments by trailblazing business leaders to push forward on clean growth for a stronger more resilient Europe.”
Leveraging financial markets – Focused on further integrating and deepening financial and capital markets to support economic growth and unlock green, industrial and digital transformations at scale.
Pillar co-chair Maria Luis Albuquerque, Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union, European Commission said:
“Deep and well-integrated financial markets are vital to turning Europe’s ambitions into concrete investment and innovation. Robust and unified capital markets are the foundation for supporting Europe’s transformation in the coming decades. They empower entrepreneurs, innovators, and industry to scale globally, while ensuring that our collective savings build a greener, stronger, and more competitive European economy — delivering lasting prosperity for Europe’s citizens.”
Enabling strategic alliances – Designed to deepen, diversify and modernize mechanisms for cross-border investment; drive economic partnerships to secure sustainable supply chains and critical raw materials; and build resilience amid a shifting global geopolitical landscape.
Pillar co-chair Jozef Síkela, Commissioner for International Partnerships, European Commission said:
“In a world of rising uncertainty, Europe has a strategic opportunity to build credible, value-driven partnerships that deliver mutual benefit. As a reliable and transparent partner, the EU can strengthen its competitiveness and security through international cooperation, turning development into an engine of stability and progress.”
Key Takeaways and Next Steps
The inaugural meeting focused on practical pathways to boost Europe’s economic strength and leverage its internal market. Discussions highlighted leading and replicable examples of technology collaboration and industrial transformation from across the region, while examining how to leverage financial savings products and pension systems to support innovation and the net-zero transition.
Participants also discussed how to scale clean technologies through demand-setting mechanisms, accelerate energy market integration and decarbonize strategic sectors –without sacrificing competitiveness. On foreign economic policy, strengthening and diversifying strategic partnerships — particularly with Africa, Latin America and Asia — and securing access to critical resources were emphasised as key interconnected priorities for economic resilience.
Important next steps for the new initiative include: convening multistakeholder workshops linked to its four thematic pillars to maintain ambition and momentum around Europe’s competitiveness agenda; facilitating and spotlighting scalable pilot initiatives; and tracking tangible progress across the four critical enablers.
