The Brussels crypto company Keyrock valued at over a billion euros
An “more active” industrial policy The unanimous need to deepen the single market, as recommended by the Letta and Draghi reports, has been seen as a way to simplify the lives of businesses. This can be achieved without necessarily “over-regulating,” as it is important to avoid harming the security of consumers and workers or financial stability.
Industry of the future The necessity to promote the emergence and/or strengthening of cutting-edge industry in Europe highlights the role of a more “activist” industrial policy. In a world where Europe lags behind the United States or China not so much in terms of the number of new companies (start-ups) created, but in the growth of new companies (scale-ups, unicorns), it is crucial for this industrial policy to be accompanied by a vigorous competition policy. The focus should be on fostering the emergence of “future European champions” rather than favoring current “national or European champions.”
Historical contract, massive hirings, record revenues: the incredible figures of Odoo
A truly European defense The current geopolitical context underscores the need for a truly European defense, with increased budgets and more synergies through a real single market in this sector, including calls for tenders on a European scale.
Green transition The green transition is not only necessary to protect the climate but also as a geopolitical imperative for Europe: a higher share of decarbonized energy would be a significant advantage at a time when oil and gas supplies are unstable and costly.
I-care reaches a billion euros valuation: “Becoming a unicorn is a symbolic accomplishment.”
Three answers How to achieve “more Europe” as a path to more growth potential? How to reduce the number of national regulations and shift national budgets to the European level? And how to prevent progress followed by setbacks (as in the case of the green transition), where confidence in regulatory stability is essential to stimulate private investment?
Three responses emerged in the discussion: 1. The need for a “mobilizing project” that citizens will support. An “Europe that protects our prosperity and security” based on the principles above could be such a project, accompanied by financial compensations to protect the inevitable “losers” of industrial changes, especially in the digital and environmental transitions. 2. A “realistic European project,” targeted enough to not challenge essential national regulations (mentioning a 28th regime for companies, more focused on high-growth young companies and limited to certain categories of workers). 3. Finally, a “flexible integration” based on a “coalition of volunteers” open to future members (similar to Schengen or the Euro), potentially expanding beyond current member states. The case of defense, where participation from the UK and even Ukraine would be beneficial, is a clear example.
The ambitious agenda should not be underestimated. Its importance and urgency cannot be minimized in a rapidly evolving world.
