On 1 February, business leaders from the CEO Alliance, comprising companies from six European countries, called on political leaders to support the European Green Deal and focus on its implementation, at their biannual meeting at the European Spallation Source (ESS), a research facility in Lund, Sweden.
The participants (CEOs from Volkswagen, E.ON, Enel, Schneider Electric, Iberdrola, Ericsson, Scania, Skanska and ABB) called for a clear industrial policy to strengthen Europe’s global competitiveness, cut red tape and support digitalisation. They highlighted the importance of secure and reliable connectivity, the deployment of cutting-edge technologies including artificial intelligence, investment in digital infrastructure and sustainability.
The host of the meeting and CEO of Swedish construction company Skanska, Anders Danielsson, explained that his company “believes that the vision of a more prosperous, sustainable and resilient Europe, with a focus on reduced emissions, will require a collective effort from all EU member states and collaboration between the public sector and industry”, and praised the CEO Alliance as “a concrete step in that direction”. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)