Closing Europe’s investment gap: what the European Competitiveness Fund must deliver
Together with MEPs Christian Ehler and Dan Nica, we co-hosted a discussion at the European Parliament on "The European Competitiveness Fund: how to boost competitiveness and investments in Europe?"
Policymakers, industry leaders, and trade union representatives explored a pressing challenge: in a world of geopolitical tensions, global competition, fragile supply chains, and economic uncertainty, Europe must move from ambition to delivery. European Commission Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, delivered a keynote address highlighting the Commission’s vision for strengthening Europe’s economic resilience and strategic industries.
BusinessEurope Director General, Markus J. Beyrer, emphasised that the proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034 is a step in the right direction, placing competitiveness at the heart of Europe’s economic strategy. As he noted: “At the heart of this discussion lies a central priority: closing Europe’s investment gap. Public funding alone will not be enough. Europe must create the right framework conditions to attract and mobilise private investment at scale. That means ensuring that the next MFF actively incentivises investment.”
A strong European Competitiveness Fund must ensure excellence in funding allocation, close alignment with Horizon Europe, and effective governance, including strong industry involvement. The European Parliament and co-rapporteurs have a key opportunity to ensure the ECF delivers on its full potential. Alongside the event, we published a dedicated paper on the ECF and its governance, offering targeted recommendations to help the fund close Europe’s investment gap.
