Ahead of the special European Council meeting on Thursday, a coalition of more than 1,300 businesses, industry bodies, and trade unions from across Europe signed an appeal directed at EU heads of state and government. They urged swift, decisive action to restore Europe’s industrial competitiveness.
The “Antwerp Declaration” released at the European Industry Summit on Wednesday, stresses the need to safeguard high‑quality jobs and calls on the upcoming summit at Burg Alten Biesen in Belgium to be the moment when Europe commits to bold, coordinated measures. Visible outcomes are expected by 2026.
The Wednesday meeting in Antwerp was attended by over 500 business representatives and key European leaders, including EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
