Ahead of the extraordinary European Council meeting on Thursday, a coalition of more than 1,300 companies, industry associations and trade unions from across Europe signed an appeal to the EU’s heads of state and government. They urged swift, decisive action to restore Europe’s industrial competitiveness.
The appeal, issued in what they called the “Antwerp Declaration” released at the European Industry Summit on Wednesday, stresses that high‑quality jobs must be protected. It calls for the upcoming summit at Schloss Alden Biesen in Belgium to become a turning point where Europe commits to bold, coordinated measures. The signatories demand tangible outcomes by 2026.
Over 500 business representatives attended the Wednesday gathering in Antwerp in person. The event also drew key EU leaders, including Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron.