EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen to Meet Industry Leaders Amid Green Transition Concerns

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to meet with industry leaders on February 26 to reassure top European manufacturers that the European Union will take action to enhance competitiveness during its ambitious green transition. The meeting is expected to take place after the EU’s executive branch unveils the Clean Industrial Deal—a strategy aimed at helping Europe compete with the United States and China—earlier the same day, according to individuals familiar with the discussions.

The heads of several major industrial firms are scheduled to convene with von der Leyen in Antwerp, where, a year earlier, they had signed a landmark declaration calling on the EU to reduce energy costs and ease the regulatory burden associated with environmental policies. These sources, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the planning, also indicated that a European Commission official had declined to comment on the gathering.

Von der Leyen has made industrial competitiveness a central policy focus during her second term as Commission President. While the EU remains committed to its ambitious emissions-reduction targets, rising energy costs and extensive Chinese subsidies have fueled concerns about the future of European manufacturers. Further complicating the outlook, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s reversal on climate policies and the potential for a trade conflict have intensified uncertainty.

To address these concerns and encourage manufacturers to remain in Europe, von der Leyen intends to pledge support in key areas, including affordable energy, clean investment funding, and the development of new markets. Under the Clean Industrial Deal, green regulations would be simplified, companies would gain better access to resources, and supply chains would become more resilient.

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