Euractiv Talks

In the context of the EU’s reindustralisation efforts, aimed at strengthening its manufacturing sector, boosting economic growth, and enhancing its strategic independence, new technologies and innovations continue to emerge. Industrial workplace environments are evolving too, reshaping the landscape for workers across all industries. As these transformations can pose risks to workers' physical and mental health, the need to safeguard their well-being and safety is paramount. This shift also emphasises the need for preventive measures, adapted workplaces, and coherent policies at EU level.To better protect workers, the European Commission has introduced several key initiatives, including the European Pillar of Social Rights, and the EU Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2021-2027. The Occupational safety and health (OSH) Framework Directive also sets out core principles aimed at improving workers’ wellbeing. All these efforts are supported by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), which advocates for safer and healthier workplaces.However, despite these EU initiatives, legislation on workers’ health and safety is still not aligned across EU member states. Some stakeholders are therefore calling for more comprehensive, all-encompassing and worker-centered EU policies.Listen to this Euractiv Hybrid Conference to explore how to protect workers’ health and safety in the EU, and how innovation is transforming industrial workplaces. Questions to be addressed include:• How do the EU’s reindustrialisation efforts shape new industrial workplaces? How do they impact workers’ health and safety?• What practical EU legislative tools and measures can be implemented to address these challenges?• How can efficient practices for worker protection be shared across EU member states?• How can we proactively design EU worker-centric policies that equip the workforce for future workplaces, driven by rapid technological change? How to ensure that work legislation is uniform across member states?

According to OECD projections, by 2030, the “Blue Economy” could outperform the growth of the global economy as a whole, both in terms of value added and employment. The EU is a global leader in offshore wind energy, one of the fastest growing sectors, but also in developing other emerging and promising technologies like tidal and wave energy and floating solar panels and wind turbines. The EU’s Integrated Maritime Policy aims to adopt a more coherent European approach to maritime issues in order to contribute to the creation of sustainable growth and jobs from sea-related activities. But tensions and potentially conflicting activities (transport, fisheries, energy production or leisure) are present in EU and international waters. These challenges require joint efforts through enhanced international cooperation. It is argued that truly integrated maritime policies, adequate economic and legislative incentives, supportive public and private financial and investment flows should be the basis for sustainable ocean development.

Competitiveness is at the heart of the EU’s agenda as it transitions toward a more sustainable economy. The Competitiveness Compass and the Clean Industrial Deal provide new direction to achieve this shift.Circularity focuses on the entire life cycle of many products via material use reduction, product maintenance and servicing, as well as strategies such as reuse, refurbishment, remanufacturing, and recycling. These actions extend the life of materials, preserve value across supply chains, and minimise resource waste. A circular economy, with its potential to drive sustainable competitiveness, increase strategic autonomy and promote innovation, offers concrete solutions to some of the EU's most pressing industrial and environmental challenges.The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) aims to improve the circularity, energy performance, recyclability, and durability of products like textiles or steel and aluminum. While circularity policies are often framed around consumer products, industrial circularity presents a different set of challenges and opportunities. Consequently, stakeholders have raised concerns that the regulation does not currently differentiate between business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) circularity needs.To address these challenges, the European Commission is advancing other initiatives, including the Circular Economy Act and a revision of the Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE). These aim to support the EU’s goals under the Competitiveness Compass and the Clean Industrial Deal to increase recycled material in the EU economy, particularly in areas like waste from electrical and electronic equipment.Listen to this Euractiv Hybrid Conference to discuss the future of B2B circularity in the EU. Questions to be addressed include:• What are the main issues faced by industry in becoming more circular? How can it be ensured that all resources are used?• How can the EU address current regulatory gaps, including the need to distinguish between B2B and B2C circularity requirements?• How effective is the ESPR in promoting circularity, and what improvements are needed?• What policy tools can drive and encourage circularity across all industrial sectors? What role can industry play in shaping the next policy agenda?• How will the Circular Economy Act strengthen existing EU initiatives?

The European Union’s ambitious climate goals demand a fundamental transition of its industrial base. As one of the most CO2-intensive industries, the steel sector stands at the forefront of this shift. Transitioning to climate neutrality presents significant challenges but also offers an opportunity for Europe to lead globally in the production of low-emission steel while contributing to the continent’s economic resilience. Achieving this vision hinges on the creation of European lead markets, requiring targeted measures to integrate low-emission steel into steel-using sectors progressively. The Low Emission Steel Standard (LESS) represents a critical milestone. This labeling system for low-emission steel has the potential to become a game-changer, driving the establishment of lead markets for clean steel while fostering innovation, competitiveness, and sustainability throughout the value chain. In collaboration with our media partner Euractiv, this high-level event will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, standardization bodies, and civil society to explore how robust labeling frameworks can stimulate demand for low-emission steel. Discussions will focus on the role of harmonized standards in ensuring transparency, building consumer trust, and enabling public and private procurement practices that reward climate-friendly solutions. Key topics include the current political landscape, the design and implementation of effective labeling systems such as LESS, and their potential to accelerate investments in breakthrough technologies. The event will also address challenges such as certification, traceability, and alignment with international markets. Don’t miss this opportunity to shape the future of Europe’s steel industry and its pivotal role in achieving climate neutrality. 

As part of its efforts to increase European competitiveness, the European Commission adopted a simplification package, the Omnibus I, in February 2025. This covers several areas, such as sustainable finance rules, due diligence reporting and the carbon border adjustment mechanism, among others. Decided under the previous Commission term, they are already being reviewed under the guise of competitiveness of European industry.One of the regulations included in the package, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), mandates companies to report on their sustainability impacts, risks and opportunities on a yearly basis, and for that report to be audited by an independent third party.Several companies that have reported this year under the current CSRD argue that the practices of the authorised audit firms have made reporting too extensive and complex, and therefore too expensive and not time-efficient internally, on top of not always focusing on the most material elements of a company’s sustainability footprint. In this quest for overall simplification of the Directive, some stakeholders are calling for auditing requirements to also be streamlined.One issue that stakeholders see with the current transposition of CSRD is that less than a quarter of EU Member States authorise Independent Assurance Service Providers (IASPs), which results in a highly concentrated market around a small amount of authorised companies. By opening the market to IASPs, companies in scope will have access to a wider range of assurance providers. This can lead to making specialised expertise more accessible, especially for smaller companies that will be in scope of the CSRD in 2029, thus lowering the cost and burden of compliance, without lowering the ambition and effectiveness of the Directive.Listen to this Euractiv Hybrid Conference to discuss how the simplification of sustainability reporting and assurance can become a reality and an opportunity for EU competitiveness. Questions to be addressed include:- What impact does sustainability reporting have on investment levels?- What makes double materiality reporting essential?- What are the benefits of opening the market to IASPs?- How can the European Commission best review the concentration of the assurance market and ensure diversification?- What could be the ideal guidelines for companies to conduct voluntary reporting and assurance, so that it remains affordable for organisations of all sizes?- What are some concrete examples of the ways in which the revision of CSRD can strengthen Europe’s economy? How do these compete on an international level?

With the world on track to 3°C of warming by the end of this century, the scientific community and a growing number of institutions are exploring climate technologies that could reduce the worst impacts of global warming.These include Solar Radiation Modification (SRM): intentional, large-scale approaches designed to cool the planet by enhancing the reflection of sunlight back into space. They are not a substitute for emissions reductions, but could potentially help manage the consequences of a significantly warmer world, including widespread crop failures, the collapse of critical ecosystems, the inundation of low-lying nations, and the intensification of climate-driven conflict and displacement.Some have called them 'technologies of desperation' – an idea that only exists because of persistent delays in mitigation efforts.While deployment is not currently an option - due to serious environmental, social, ethical, and geopolitical concerns - public research in this field remains underfunded, especially in the EU. This gap is opening the door for private capital to step in, often without the transparency or public oversight of such sensitive work demands. Without public funding, the EU risks limiting its ability to build in-house expertise needed to shape the science and influence the crucial international governance decisions that will eventually need to be made.In late 2024, the EU’s Chief Scientific Advisors, at the request of the European Commission, released an opinion on SRM, recommending that European institutions support responsible and comprehensive research, including on risks and side-effects. Ideally, such research should be backed by public funding that is additional to funding dedicated to climate change mitigation and adaptation.But this idea is controversial. Critics warn that it could undermine mitigation and adaptation efforts or lead us down a slippery slope toward eventual deployment. Others argue that, without a clear governance framework, we risk having SRM research that is fragmented, opaque, and potentially irresponsible, often led by unaccountable private actors.A well-defined set of rules could ensure that research remains transparent, accountable, and firmly separated from any premature push for deployment, while keeping the focus squarely on urgent climate action.Listen to this Euractiv Hybrid Conference for a discussion on the scientific, ethical, and political dimensions of Solar Radiation Modification research. Together with leading experts and policymakers, we’ll explore:- What is SRM, what might it offer in the future, and why is it so controversial?- Could SRM shift global power dynamics, and how can the EU position itself to lead in shaping global rules and safeguards?- Where are the biggest knowledge gaps and how can public research help fill them, transparently and ethically?- What would responsible SRM research look like?- How do we get it right for future generations, ensuring that today’s decisions don’t create tomorrow’s regrets?

The European Commission highlights that nearly half of EU adults still lack basic digital skills, even though 90% of jobs now require them, posing a major challenge to Europe’s economic competitiveness. Digital skills are essential for daily life, advancing STEM learning, and enabling active, informed citizenship. Demand is growing for competencies in cybersecurity, AI, and digital collaboration, especially with the rise of remote work and online communication.This year, the Commission published a communication on the Action Plan on Basic Skills and the Union of Skills, setting out key actions. To boost digital skills across Europe, it will update the Digital Competence Framework in 2025 to include emerging technologies like AI, develop guidelines to strengthen digital literacy in vocational education and training (VET), and create a toolkit to integrate basic skills into apprenticeships. The Commission will also promote high-quality teaching materials through EU Code Week and develop EU-wide best practices by 2026 for assessing digital skills in schools to ensure consistent evaluation.Following the midway point of the Digital Education Action Plan adopted in 2020, the Commission will present a 2030 Roadmap in 2025 to promote equal access to digital education, support AI literacy, and build long-term partnerships with EU-based EdTech providers. Separately, it will implement a STEM Education Strategic Plan to encourage more students, especially girls and women, to pursue STEM studies and careers, while using Erasmus+, the Digital Europe Programme, and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) to establish transnational university-business partnerships to train people in sectors with severe skills gaps.In the run up to EU Code Week 2025, which will take place from 11-26 October, join this Euractiv Virtual Conference to take stock of the Digital Education Action Plan just after its halfway mark and explore what’s next for digital skills in Europe. Some questions to be discussed include:– What does examining the Digital Education Action Plan at its midway point reveal about its successes and challenges? What will be the focus for the second half?– What should the 2025 update of the Digital Competence Framework include to reflect emerging technologies and support digital skills development?– What role do digital skills play in improving the EU’s global competitiveness, and which sectors could benefit most from stronger digital capacities?– Is current EU action enough to close the digital skills gap, or is more legislation and investment needed, and if so, on which areas should it focus?Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

How can young people help shape policies for a healthy, sustainable ocean? That was the question at the heart of the EU4Ocean Coalition’s 2024 Challenge of the Year. Xhoi Zajmi from Euractiv, Nina Dietz and Jan Feuring from Young Citizens’ Council for the Ocean – one of the winning projects bringing fresh energy and bold ideas to the future of ocean governance – delve into the most pressing issues related to our oceans.

In this Euractiv Thought Leadership Interview, journalist Dave Keating sits down with Javier Silva, Head of Sustainability and Community Relations at SQM, one of the world’s largest lithium producers. Javier discusses Chile's pivotal role in the global lithium supply, the unique challenges of operating in the Atacama Desert, and SQM’s evolving approach to sustainability and social responsibility.The conversation dives deep into:- How lithium is extracted sustainably from the Salar de Atacama- SQM’s community outreach efforts and long-term partnerships with indigenous communities- Addressing water use and environmental concerns in one of the driest places on Earth- Empowering indigenous women through the AMA project- Building trust, transparency, and international cooperation with the EU- Planning for a future beyond mining for local communitiesJavier emphasizes the importance of genuine relationships, co-created programs, and respectful engagement, offering a compelling look at how the future of clean energy must also be socially and ethically responsible.

In this podcast episode, part of our Project EUYou, Euractiv's host Christoph Schwaiger speaks with Dr. László Andor, former EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (2010-2014) and Secretary General of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies. They explore Hungary’s complex relationship with EU cohesion funds, the impact of rule of law concerns on funding access, and how political shifts - like a potential government change - could reshape Hungary's future within the EU. From suspended investments to broader implications for democracy and economic growth, the discussion highlights what's at stake for both Hungary and the European Union.

Europe’s bioeconomy transforms renewable resources—such as agricultural products, forests, seas, residues, and waste—into food, feed, materials, and energy.The European Commission is preparing a new Bioeconomy Strategy, set for adoption by the end of 2025, to boost innovation and strengthen Europe’s bioeconomy. The strategy is expected to outline measures that will help bring bioeconomy innovations to market, creating new opportunities for green jobs and sustainable economic development.A key focus of the strategy will be enhancing circularity and sustainability while supporting the EU’s broader decarbonisation efforts. It will establish the necessary framework conditions to support bioeconomy startups, entrepreneurs, and new business models, ensuring they can thrive in a competitive market.By aligning with major EU initiatives such as the Competitiveness Compass and the Clean Industrial Deal, the strategy will harness the potential of the bioeconomy to support European businesses and advance the EU’s environmental, climate, and competitiveness goals.Listen to this Euractiv Hybrid Conference to discuss the upcoming Bioeconomy Strategy, its potential to drive sustainable economic growth, support innovation, and strengthen Europe’s green transition. Some questions to discuss include:- What policy measures are needed to accelerate bioeconomy innovation?- How can the strategy help businesses scale up and compete globally?- What gaps and challenges should be addressed to unlock the full potential of Europe’s bioeconomy?

In its 2019 Green Deal, the EU emphasised the importance of domestic electric vehicle (EV) battery production to achieve the energy transition while fostering a competitive and sustainable battery value chain. The goal is to scale up domestic EV battery production and establish a fully integrated value chain within the EU. While significant progress has been made, the reality today shows that the EU is still far from fully achieving these objectives.The 2024 Draghi Report, along with the European Commission’s newly introduced Competitiveness Compass for the EU, highlights key challenges facing Europe’s sustainable growth and global competitiveness. These include slower productivity growth compared to other regions and the disruptive impact of emerging technologies. The report identifies three key areas for action: closing the innovation gap, advancing a competitive decarbonisation strategy, and enhancing security by reducing external dependencies.Listen to this Euractiv Hybrid Conference to explore the challenges facing the EU’s battery raw materials industry. Questions to be addressed include:- What is the current state of industries supplying critical raw materials, such as cobalt, lithium, and nickel, for the EV battery value chain?- Does the European Commission’s Competitiveness Compass effectively address the industry's concerns? Where do the major challenges lie?- What actions are needed to build a robust and resilient EU battery raw materials industry?- What measures can be taken to ensure sustainable domestic raw material production and recycling while expanding capacities to meet growing demand?

Listen to this podcast, which discusses the implementation of the Energy Efficiency First principle - the idea of ensuring that energy efficiency solutions are considered in planning, policy, and investment. In particular, in this podcast we look at the cases of Italy and Greece.

This high-level policy debate will convene key actors to discuss the critical role of research and innovation in helping to drive Europe’s green transition and enhancing its competitiveness, resilience and strategic autonomy. The dialogue will cover a range of topics, including the fostering of green startups and scaleups, effective measures to combat green disinformation and its erosion of public trust and sound policy making, and the strategic importance of green and blue diplomacy in addressing global environmental and security challenges. Discussions on these topics are timely as the negotiations on the next EU’s long-term budget plan are starting up.By bringing diverse perspectives to the table, this policy debate aims to stimulate forward-thinking dialogue on how Europe can accelerate the transition to a resilient, competitive, and secure green economy. Speakers will look at the role of R&I as an enabler of the green transition and explore how its policy, economic and societal impact can accelerate in the coming years. We invite you to join this timely conversation and contribute to shaping the future of EU research and innovation for sustainable prosperity.This policy dialogue will set the scene for the full-day "R&I for a Competitive Green Transition" conference, organised by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, on 24 June 2025 in Brussels. Topics introduced in this policy dialogue session will be explored in more depth during this conference, which is a satellite event of the European Research and Innovation Days.More information and registrations for the conference: Events | The research and innovation community platform

Transformative Power of Investment: Unlocking Opportunities Across European Regions will focus on how strategic investment can serve as a catalyst for the economic and social revitalization of regions across Europe. In the context of strategic autonomy and reindustrialization, the need to support not only densely populated and dynamic areas but also rural and less-populated regions has become more pressing than ever.Large companies operating in these areas play a vital role. Their investments not only generate employment but also foster skills development within local communities and stimulate innovation ecosystems. This type of corporate commitment can serve as a model for public policies aimed at promoting balanced growth across the European Union.The event will showcase Amazon as an example of how widespread, localized investment across multiple regions can drive economic activity—through job creation, GDP contribution, and the broader social and economic revitalization of communities. It will bring together Amazon leaders, EU and regional policymakers, and experts to explore concrete success stories and replicable models for reindustrialization, territorial cohesion, and the role of public-private collaboration in driving regional transformation.

Heavy industry is an important part of the European economy. Sectors such as iron and steel, cement, chemicals and mining not only provide essential materials, but also boost European industrial competitiveness.However, these sectors, who are major global GDP contributors, are amongst the highest emitters of CO2 and face increasing pressure to decarbonise and align with the EU’s climate targets. To address this challenge, the European Commission has recently launched the Clean Industrial Deal, which is designed to accelerate the decarbonisation of European industry and to foster competitiveness. As part of this initiative, the Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act also aims to speed up industrial access to energy and decarbonisation.According to a recent Fraunhofer IPA report on how hard-to-abate industries can achieve net zero, achieving these goals will require investment in new technologies, such as electrification of heat, carbon capture or hydrogen production. These solutions have the potential to reduce emissions while maintaining high productivity across Europe’s heavy industry and manufacturing.Listen to this Euractiv Hybrid Conference to explore strategies to reduce carbon emissions in European heavy industry, while ensuring competitiveness of the sector. Questions to be addressed include:- What role can existing and emerging technologies play in the decarbonisation of Europe’s heavy industry and manufacturing? How can the EU effectively foster innovation?- How can the EU strike a balance between its climate ambitions, industrial competitiveness and productivity?- What strategies can help ensure the cost competitiveness of low-carbon solutions for heavy industry?

Strengthening Europe’s position in the global data-driven economy and advancing its digital single market is crucial. To achieve this, smart regulation serves as a key enabler, attracting investments, reducing market barriers and driving ethical tech innovation. Amid global competition for AI dominance and high expectations for cutting red tape during this Commission term, regulatory technologies (RegTech) emerge as powerful tools to streamline complex compliance processes, allowing saved resources to be redirected toward value creation.Listen to a discussion with industry, academia and policymakers to explore how European regulations can better support innovators and how innovations like RegTech can enable seamless regulatory compliance. The event will provide a deep dive into the potential of turning regulatory compliance into a competitive advantage, showcasing how technologies like AI have a unique momentum to empower organisations to streamline their reporting, reduce costs, and adapt to evolving realities as first-movers in their fields.Participants will gain insights from compelling case studies on streamlining compliance in highly regulated sectors including healthcare, sustainability, and finance.

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU and national governments have recognised the need for greater policy infrastructure to support better preparation for future cross-border health security threats. Pandemics and epidemics remain significant threats to global public health and are inevitable. In 2022, the European Commission introduced a Regulation to develop a comprehensive prevention, preparedness and response plan at EU and member state levels.And in a major step forward, WHO Member States recently forged a draft agreement, to be discussed at the World Health Assembly in May, which aims to strengthen global collaboration on prevention, preparedness and response to future pandemic threats. EU Health Ministers argue they should have access to the 800 billion euros set aside for the EU’s over-arching Union Preparedness Strategy saying, “without essential medicines, Europe’s defence capabilities are compromised.”One growing health concern is the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which occurs when germs no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines. The emergence and spread of these drug-resistant infections are also accelerated by human activity, such as conflicts that lead to mass displacement of civilian populations.While the EU is taking steps to address potential health emergencies, including the acute threat of future virus pandemics as well as combatting the rise of the ‘slow pandemic’ of AMR, health and policy experts argue that further cooperation, transparency and improved procedures are needed among member states.Against the backdrop of emerging public health issues, join this Euractiv Hybrid Conference to discuss the evolving EU policy landscape for health security to ensure Europe is prepared for new and emerging cross-border health threats. Questions to be addressed include:• How can the EU initiatives on cross-border health threats be effectively implemented to ensure effective impact at both EU and national levels?• What further measures can the EU and its member states take to ensure greater preparedness and response for future health security threats following the unprecedented damage done by COVID-19?• Given the rise of AMR, what policies should be prioritised at the EU level to coordinate research, surveillance, and stewardship efforts?• How can we ensure public-private working practices are successfully set up to face AMR?• In the current geo-political climate how important is it to have on-shore manufacturing for medical counter measures in Europe?

As part of the revision of the EU’s animal welfare legislation, the European Commission presented in December 2023 a proposal for new rules on the protection of animals during transport. The draft regulation aims to limit journey times, require rest breaks, set temperature thresholds and introduce minimum space allowances, reflecting calls for higher welfare standards. Since then, the European Parliament has proposed thousands of amendments to the text, with many observers warning that these changes risk watering down the original proposal and weakening its impact. In this Policy Triangle discussion, Tilly Metz MEP, Dr Joanna Swabe from Humane World for Animals Europe, and Nancy De Briyne from the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe explore whether the Commission’s proposal and Parliament’s response can deliver meaningful progress on animal welfare during transport or risk falling short of expectations.

As Pernod Ricard celebrates 50 years since its founding and 30 years in Brussels, Euractiv sits down with CEO Alexandre Ricard to discuss the importance of free trade, the role of the EU, and how a business rooted in geographic origin depends on open global markets to succeed.He also shares his views on how the sector can contribute to the European Green Deal, the need for simpler regulation, and the importance of promoting safe and informed alcohol consumption. Providing clear information, he says, empowers consumers to make better choices and supports a balanced approach. Watch the full interview for more.