EU’s Von der Leyen Set to Pitch CEOs on Competitiveness Plan

(Bloomberg) -- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is planning to meet industry leaders on Feb. 26 in a bid to assure top local producers that the European Union will act to boost competitiveness during an ambitious green overhaul. 

The meeting is likely to take place after the bloc’s executive arm unveils the Clean Industrial Deal — a strategy to help Europe compete with US and Chinese rivals — earlier that day, according to people with knowledge of the matter. 

The heads of several major industrial companies will gather with von der Leyen in Antwerp, where a year ago they signed a landmark declaration urging the EU to cut energy costs and the regulatory burden of green rules, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing planning. A commission official declined to comment.

Von der Leyen has made competitiveness of Europe’s industry a key policy priority during her second term atop the commission. As the EU continues pursuing its ambitious emissions-reduction goals, high energy costs and Chinese subsidies have raised fears over the future of its manufacturers. President Donald Trump’s reversal on US climate goals and the risk of a trade war have added to a worsening sentiment. 

Von der Leyen’s plan is to allay those concerns and try to keep industry in Europe by pledging affordable energy, funding for clean investment and building new markets. Under the Clean Industrial Deal, green rules would be simplified and companies would have improved access to resources and more resilient value chains. 

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