By Euronews
Published on
Top political and business figures gathered at Euronews’ Davos hub for a high-level dinner discussion on Europe’s future. The event brought into focus the continent’s urgent need to invest smarter, reconcile competitiveness with sustainability, and rethink regulation to foster innovation.
Comments from guests on the sidelines of the dinner at the World Economic Forum, shown in the video above, underline a common theme: Europe must act decisively to secure its position in a rapidly changing global economy.
On the agenda were pressing questions for the EU. How can Europe scale up investment in skills, research and development, disruptive technologies, and strategic infrastructure when public finances are tight? Are current tools like the Recovery Fund and IPCEIs sufficient for the scale of the challenge? And, crucially, can Europe maintain global competitiveness without a radical overhaul of its education and training systems?
The dinner also highlighted the evolving relationship between competitiveness and sustainability, a theme increasingly central to the continent’s future. The traditional view that the green transition comes at the expense of industrial performance is being reassessed, as decarbonisation, digitalisation, and AI are now recognised as potential drivers of productivity and long-term competitiveness.
At the same time, questions persist about whether the EU has a fully coherent industrial strategy or if differing national priorities could slow progress. Policymakers and analysts continue to consider which objectives – competitiveness, sustainability, or strategic autonomy – should take precedence, understanding that these choices will shape Europe’s industrial trajectory over the coming decade.
As Europe navigates these challenges, the dinner underscored a broader message: urgent, coordinated action is essential. Balancing innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness will require bold policy decisions, strategic investment, and a clear vision for the continent’s industrial and economic future. The conversations in Davos offer a snapshot of how leaders are thinking about these choices and the stakes for Europe’s position on the global stage.