Today in Antwerp and tomorrow in Alden Biesen, leading industrial figures and European leaders will be discussing the future of European industry. How can Europe avoid losing further ground to China and the US? Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever (pictured left) wants to help turn the tide.
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PM De Wever hopes to shore up European competitiveness at Antwerp Industry summit and EU leaders’ gathering at Alden Biesen
Colin Clapson
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“The backbone of our economy is cracking." In an extensive interview with VRT NEWS last weekend, Prime Minister De Wever (Flemish nationalist N-VA) once again painted a bleak picture of our future.
De Wever cites the decline of the Antwerp petrochemical sector as an example. Hundreds of jobs are disappearing in the port of Antwerp, Europe's most important chemical cluster. Last month, Antwerp also lost out on a major billion-euro project. Danish company Vioneo has chosen China over Europe as the location for its new factory.
“Without industry, you are completely dependent on China and the US for everything,” says the Prime Minister. De Wever wants to put the problem of European industry higher on the agenda, in politics and in public debate.
CEOs demand decisive action in Antwerp
The two-day event kicks off with the European Industry Summit in Antwerp. CEOs from Belgium's and Europe's largest companies will gather to discuss what political action is needed to help industry. What they are demanding is no secret: decisive action.
The following day, French President Macron and German Chancellor Merz (pictured right) are also expected at the imposing Alden Biesen Landcommandery. All EU leaders will gather there for an informal summit with a single theme on the agenda: competitiveness. In short: how can Europe compete economically with the US and China?
We should not expect any surprising new proposals. The countries know what is needed. In 2024, former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi – who will also be present at Alden Biesen – published a voluminous and much-discussed report listing possible measures to make the EU more competitive.
De Wever expects the Commission – the European body that proposes legislation – to present a concrete plan or roadmap at the European summit in March.
‘World champion’ of overregulation
De Wever has put high energy prices at the top of his list of priorities. He also supports Merz's call to impose fewer rules on businesses. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, he spoke plainly: ‘We have become world champions of overregulation. That has to stop.’
‘We must make it much easier to do business. We have great moral principles in Europe, and they are important, but if you always want to be the friendliest and cleanest in the whole world, you make it too difficult for your companies,’ says De Wever. He does maintain that Europe must continue to adhere to its own climate targets, as laid down in the Green Deal.
Another of the Prime Minister's pet subjects is the further integration of European markets. In practice, there are still many barriers to trade between countries because different rules often apply.
De Wever proposes not waiting until every country is ready for closer cooperation. He wants to do this as soon as possible with the countries that are also open to it and is looking first and foremost to our neighbours, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.