400 business leaders met with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Antwerp to discuss the recently published Clean Industrial Deal. One year after the Antwerp Declaration, they are calling on EU leaders to take urgent action to support industry before the March European Council. Laurent Auguste, CEO of the GreenDot Group, also attended this important meeting.

European businesses are facing historic challenges: Declining demand, stalled investments, capacity reductions, and EU gas prices four to five times higher than those of international competitors are putting pressure on Europe as a business location. The chemical industry, which has already announced major capacity closures, is particularly affected.

Back in February, 73 business leaders presented the Antwerp Declaration to Ursula von der Leyen and former Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. The declaration, which now has more than 1,300 signatories, outlines ten concrete measures to revitalise industry, safeguard high-quality jobs, and advance Europe’s sustainability goals.

The European industry is signaling its willingness to actively contribute to economic transformation but is calling on policymakers to provide a clear framework for a competitive and sustainable future in Europe.

More information is available here.