Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, called for a faster pace in Europe on Wednesday at the European Industry Summit in Antwerp. “We need to accelerate; I know the pressure from global markets on our industries will only intensify” she said.
She highlighted the human side of investment shifts. “Whenever I hear that an investment is being pulled out of Europe, or a factory faces closure, my first thought is the employees and the families who might lose a vital source of income. I also consider what this means for Europe as a whole-our industry is the industry of industries” she added.
Von der Leyen reported that investments aimed at driving industrial transformation have more than doubled, rising from €52 billion in 2024 to €115 billion in 2025. In addition, proposals have been tabled to reduce bureaucratic costs for companies by €15 billion annually.
She noted that while Europe remains a leader in many aspects of the energy transition, competition is growing fiercer. “We see massive subsidies, state‑favoured overcapacity, and market distortions” she said. “China exports almost twice as much clean technology as Europe-a clear signal of shifting global market positions. It is imperative that we act swiftly to secure Europe’s place in the new world economy”.
To strengthen European competitiveness, von der Leyen urged faster approval processes and simplified rules. She announced a new wind‑energy package that will cut approval times by two‑thirds and outlined plans to reduce bureaucratic burdens at the EU level by €37 billion. However, she emphasized that national governments and the European Parliament must also play a role in implementing these necessary changes.