EUROPEAN BUSINESS SUMMIT
16 & 17 NOV. 2020
On 16 & 17 November 2020, over 6000 participants attended the European Business Summit 2020 edition titled “Rebooting the European Economy: Towards a green, digital and more resilient Europe“. Adapting to the pandemic, this edition was held under a virtual format that live-streamed 30 high-level panels and interactive interviews featuring over 60 high-level speakers from business, policy, civil society, and academia!
ABOUT
In these challenging times, coming together to debate and discuss Europe’s pressing issues becomes even more important. As it has done for over 20 years, the European Business Summit is uniquely positioned as a debating platform for policy, business, and academia. EBS 2020 focused on how Europe can unite despite the crisis to reshape our society and boost the economy. In an effort to support the economy, the public sector and the private sector will have to join forces to restore confidence and stability on the continent.
EBS 2020’s overarching theme, “Rebooting the European economy – Towards a green, digital and more resilient Union”, illustrates the importance and impact sustainability has on various sectors of our society. The generational challenges – the green and the digital transitions – will be even more important than before the crisis. Therefore, the horizontal issue of ‘sustainability’ will remain central during the November edition of EBS. EBS 2020 will highlight a new approach to business and its focus on sustainable transformation. Therefore, this summit is incredibly timely, able to reflect the EU recovery plan presented by the European Commission and to showcase the positive contribution of businesses in making Europe a green, digital and a more resilient economic model. Through a series of interactive discussions, structured around three themes, EBS 2020 is positioned to present concrete solutions and to encourage strong commitment from stakeholders to deliver on the economic, environmental and social objectives for a sustainable and inclusive Europe.
HIGHLIGHTS
- EBS2020 kicked off with an interview to Alexander de Croo by Maria Tadeo, Bloomberg TV reporter. The Prime Minister of Belgium discussed how the Belgian government is supporting citizens and businesses hard-hit by COVID19.
- Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President for Economy and Trade, spoke at EBS2020 on reviving the transatlantic relationship as the EU and the US work together as strategic partners to face challenges in the economy, trade, security, and other areas of cooperation.
- “We need to restructure the economy in a sustainable way.” During EBS2020’s session “How to Reconcile Green and Growth?” Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, highlighted the importance of supporting SMEs through quality regulation.
- At EBS2020’s session “Digital Education in Europe”, Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation and Youth, presented the Digital Education Action Plan, which aims to make digital literacy & skills a key part of our education systems.
- “Reaching big audiences comes with great responsibilities” highlighted MEP Stéphanie Yon-Courtin at EBS2020’s session “Regulation of Digital Platforms”.
- Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine, discussed the most interesting issues of the EU-Ukraine trade agenda with journalist Chris Burns during the EBS2020 session “Green and Sustainable: The Future of EU-Ukraine Trade Relationship”.
SPEAKERS
European Commission
Frans Timmermans
Executive Vice-President
for the European Green Deal
European Commission
Valdis Dombrovskis
Executive Vice-President for Economy and Trade
European Commission
Mariya Gabriel
Commissioner for Innovation and Youth
Xie Zhenhua
Special Advisor for Climate
Change Affairs (MEE) of China
Belgian Government
Alexander De Croo
Prime Minister of Belgium
European Commission
Margaritis Schinas
European Vice-President
European Commission
Jutta Urpilainen
Commissioner for International Partnership
European Commission
Vera Jourova
Vice-President for Values and Transparency
International Institute
Didier Reynders
Commissioner for Justice
Adina Valean
European Commissioner for Transport
European Parliament
Eva Kaili
Member of the European Parliament
European Commission
Pierre Delsaux
Deputy Director-General, DG DEFIS
Cabinet of EU Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen
Lora Borissova
Senior Expert
European Defence Agency
Jiri Sedivy
Chief Executive
European Commission
Salla Saastamoinen
DG JUST Acting Director General
European Business Summits
Arnaud Thysen
Director General
University of Namur, Belgium
Anne-Sophie Collard
Professor of Information and Communication
Danfoss Group
Kjeld Stærk
Vice-President
European Commission
Joanna Drake
Deputy Director-General DG ENV
Daniel Michaels
Brussels Bureau Chief of The Wall Street Journal
PROGRAMME
DAY 1
08:40-08:45
Channel 1
WELCOME
Arnaud Thysen
Director General
European Business Summits
DAY 1
08:45-10:30
Channel 1
CONTINUING MOMENTUM: HOW CHINA AND THE EU CAN BE THE GREEN ENGINES OF GLOBAL ECONOMIC RECOVERY
Xie Zhenhua
Special Advisor for Climate
Change Affairs (MEE) of China
LI Junfeng
First Director and Chairman of Academic Committee
National Center for Climate Change Strategy
and International Cooperation (NCSC)
Bernard M. Kemper
CEO
EEW Energy from Waste GMBH
Kjeld Stærk
Vice-President
Danfoss Group
He Yun
Assistant Professor
Hunan University’s School of Public Management
Isbrand Ho
Managing Director
BYD Europe B.V.
Raffaele Mauro Petriccione
Director-General DG CLIMA
European Commission
Shada Islam
Founder of the New Horizons Project and
Brussels-based commentator and analyst
He Jijiang
Executive Deputy Director
Institute of Energy Transition & Social
Development,Tsinghua University, China
In September 2020, the European Union and China have agreed to establish a High-level Environment and Climate Dialogue to pursue ambitious joint commitments. This dialogue between these two global partners plays an essential role in preserving biodiversity, tackling climate change, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“Only by sitting at the table together we can achieve the goals set out by the #parisagreement”
Moreover, President Xi Jinping has reinforced the Chinese engagement on climate change by pledging to speed up reductions in emissions in China and to reach carbon neutrality by 2060. For its part, the European Union has increased its 2030 emission reduction targets to at least 55 percent up from 40 percent, and the Union aims to be climate-neutral by 2050. These common ambitious targets aim at accelerating the European and the Chinese industry transition to a sustainable model of inclusive growth. For achieving these objectives, it is now crucial to intensify the dialogue between the two partners to ensure smooth cooperation in working together to develop implementation plans.
These two high-level roundtables will offer the opportunity for European and Chinese policy makers and business representatives to discuss the achievement of their common goals. Which are the areas of greatest potential for EU-China climate action cooperation? How the EU and China will secure the required technological breakthroughs and large-scale investments? How can they help other actors, in particular developing countries, to support the green transition?
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Xie Zhenhua: #ClimateDialogue: “The USA plays a key-role in climate change governance and we look forward the USA to rejoin the Paris Agreement. EU countries have encountered many obstacles but have responded with a very positive leadership. There is a strong potential for cooperation between China and the EU.” / #GreenGrowth “China attaches great importance to the issue of coal power plants and no longer supports any projects that are related to it” / #GreenRecovery “Our goals are based on very firm foundations. China exceeded much of the goals that were planned for 2020” / Such as the #EUGreenDeal, we will strongly promote a transition in the industry sector #GreenBuildings #ElectricCars
Raffaele Mauro Petriccione: “How can we accelerate the #transition from coal to #RenewableEnergy? We first need to change the mindset, then #policies will follow. This view is not new in the #EU and the #Chinese general policy.”
Li Junfeng: #greentransition ” Historically speaking the #cooperation between China and EU is the most successful example”
BYD Managing Director, Isbrand Ho: Will #EU manufacturers be held back by China? “We have developed very solid partnerships in the EU creating opportunities & jobs./ China & the EU look forward to further develop their cooperation”
He Jijiang: If we work with Europe together on #PVstations will have a positive ecological impact. #China and #EU can perform a leadriship role./ #ClimateChange “We shouldn’t deprive young students of their future. Each individual has a role to play. The education of young students is crucial for them to be able to shape the future.”
He Yun:”We are looking forward to the friendly #PVstations race with the European partners.”
DAY 1
10:30-10:45
Channel 1
A CONVERSATION WITH PRIME MINISTER OF BELGIUM ALEXANDER DE CROO
Alexander De Croo
Prime Minister of Belgium
Belgian Government
Maria Tadeo
Reporter for Bloomberg Television
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Alexander De Croo: “#Vaccines and fast testing will be a part of a #containment strategy. We have become better at identifying risky behaviours. The #US and #Europe become incredibly powerful when they cooperate.”
DAY 1
10:45-11:45
Channel 1
NATURAL CAPITAL: THE EXAMPLE OF WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
Florika Fink-Hooijer
Director-General DG ENV
European Commission
Maria Tadeo
Reporter for Bloomberg Television
Tim Brett
President of the Western Europe Unit
The Coca-Cola Company
Luc Bas
European Regional Director
IUCN
Natural capital is the world’s stock of natural resources, which includes geology, soils, air, water and all living organisms. In June 2012 a ‘natural capital declaration’ (NCD) was signed by 40 CEOs to ‘integrate natural capital considerations into loans, equity, fixed income and insurance products, as well as in accounting, disclosure and reporting frameworks.’ They worked with supporting organisations to develop tools and metrics to integrate natural capital factors into existing business structures.
Among natural resources, water is central in this natural capital approach. Across the EU, water shortages and droughts have increased dramatically in the recent decade and will become more frequent and severe in the future. Furthermore, water scarcity has a significant impact on the European economy, affecting industries such as agriculture, industry and tourism. The discussion in the session will revolve around the topic of water as an entry point into the broader discourse on climate change and how business models can integrate circularity and biodiversity more effectively on a wider scale.
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Tim Brett: We are a consumer centric organization and absorb their changing habits and needs. We are making more commitments on reducing our CO2 emission but there is a lot of work ahead.
Luc Bas: Water is an indicator of how we deal with natural capital. We need to stop improvising, develop a solid strategy and adopt the right nature-based solutions in order to be able to move forward. / The challenge with safeguarding #naturalcapital, restoring nature, is that it is not at the heart of the debate yet. For that we need a common understading of what it is.
Florika Fink-Hooijer: We just opened the dialogue on 0 polution action plan. Public funding is not enough. We have developed several platforms to encourage the dialogue with the business community. We need to join forces.
DAY 1
11:45-12:00
Channel 1
INTEGRATING GENDER INTO EU ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE
Chris Burns
Independent Journalist
Amelia Lopez Huix
CEO
MOH International
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Amelia Lopez Huix: “Women represent half of the global economic and societal potential!” / #womenempowerment “Europe lacks modernisation. EU authorities need to change the narrative. Investors and stakeholders should take immediate action for the future!”
DAY 1
12:00-12:45
Channel 1
HOW TO RECONCILE GREEN AND GROWTH?
Frans Timmermans
Executive Vice-President
for the European Green Deal
European Commission
Erik Novaes
Vice-President Procurement & Sustainability, Europe
Anheuser-Busch InBev
Bernard M. Kemper
CEO
EEW Energy from Waste GMBH
Maria Tadeo
Reporter for Bloomberg Television
Sébastien Petithuguenin
General Manager
PAPREC GROUP
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Frans Timmermans: “Things are moving in the right way internationally. We need to prepare well for the meeting in Glasgow and thus it is very exiting that the US will be back in the #ParisAgreement” / “We have to look where we want to invest. We need to be proactive. The overwhelming majority of people in business have realized that we need to restructure the economy in a sustainable way” / #Greenwashing? “It is crucial that we offer the business community long term predicatability. We need to use climate law as the backbone of what we want to build in terms of regulation.” / “European SMEs are struggling. We need to ensure they are on board. Our task is to provide quality regulation that provides predictability and stability.” / “We need the business community. That is where the understanding of sustainable production, consumption and circular economy is. We need to take action. We cannot afford to be left behind.”
Erik Novaes: “We are working with several S&Es and startups. Whenever we set a new sustainable goals there is a full base of suppliers that have to go in the same direction and support us.”
Sébastien Petithuguenin: “Recycling is massive weapon to fight climate change and it is instrumental to deliver this transition”
DAY 1
12:45-13:00
Channel 1
MEASURING AND MITIGATING COMPANIES' IMPACT ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Steven Tebbe
Managing Director
CDP Europe
Chris Burns
Independent Journalist
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Steven Tebbe: “Environment protection is the most urgent action we should take.” / “Build forward better, we do not want to go back to where we were.”
DAY 1
12:45-13:45
Channel 1
CATALONIA INTERNATIONAL TECH HUB: A PERMANENT INNOVATIVE DEAL FLOW
Joan Romero
CEO
Catalonia Trade and Investment
Jaume Vives
Managing Director
Roche Diagnostics
Marc Gómez
CEO and President
ABB in Spain
Jennifer Baker
EU Policy and Tech Reporter
Catalonia is a world-class Tech Hub investment destination and has an outstanding position as a foreign investment venture. AAM, Novartis, IBM, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Hempel are just a few examples of cutting-edge multinationals investing in Catalonia. Alstom and Oracle have also chosen Catalonia for their industry 4.0 strategy. The roundtable will focus on Catalonia’s competitive advantage as the first European Capital of Innovation (according to iCapital Prize) and on how the Catalan Government can support your future investments in this strategic location. According to different rankings, Catalonia received the most R&D investments and showed the highest number of R&D jobs in all Continental Europe (fDi Markets). According to PwC’s latest report, Barcelona stands out for its digitalisation efforts in fields such as culture and tourism, smart healthcare, smart housing and utilities. This positions the Catalan capital as the fourth most well-prepared city for the technological future, coming just after Singapore, London and Shanghai.
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Jaume Vives: “Catalonia has one of the most attractive & professional ecosystems. Roche Diagnostics brings digital advantages to healthcare.” / Catalonia: the new Silicon Valley? “The Catalonian Innovation spirit creates a perfect environment for European entrepreneurs, startups & innovation hubs.”
Marc Gomez: “Catalonia allows people to grow and have a career. The region has the required resources & attracts the companies that are willing to invest. Being able to attract and retain is a big differentiator for Catalonia.”
Joan Romero: “We have to consolidate the technology offer and pull the demand on innovation. The Catalonian government attaches great importance to innovation and collaborates with trade unions and business associations to reach its innovation goals.”
DAY 1
13:00-13:40
Channel 1
SCIENCE AND TRANSPARENCY FOR BETTER ALTERNATIVES AND BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION
Damon Embling
Journalist
Euronews
Moira Gilchrist
Vice-President Strategic and Scientific Communications
PMI
This session, in collaboration with Philip Morris International (PMI), will explore how PMI is leading a transformation in the tobacco industry to create a smoke-free future and ultimately replace cigarettes with smoke-free products to the benefit of adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, society, the company, and its shareholders. While analysing the PMI’s disruptive innovative approach, the session will focus on the internal and external scientific challenges and the transparency in R&D practices.
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Moira Gilchrist: “Our vision is simple, we want to end the sale of combustible cigarettes.”/ “We went for an aggressive transparent process by publishing all of our research and raw data.”
DAY 1
13:40-14:00
Channel 1
HOW TO IMPROVE RESILIENCE IN THE MEMBER STATES THROUGH BETTER GOVERNANCE?
Chris Burns
Independent Journalist
André Sapir
Senior Fellow
Bruegel
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
André Sapir: #resilience #governance “We need new rules on governance in the wake of the pandemic, government accountability and a better rule of law in some countries.”
DAY 1
14:00-15:00
Channel 1
CLEAN FUELS FOR ALL: A PATHWAY TO REACH CLIMATE NEUTRALITY IN TRANSPORT
Adina Valean
European Commissioner for Transport
Laurent Donceel
Senior Policy Director
Airlines for Europe
Tesa Arcilla
Brussels-based TV presenter and correspondent
Giuseppe Ricci
Chief Green/ Traditional Refinery and Marketing
ENI
The objective of the session is to discuss how the European Union and the European industry address the challenge of driving EU Transport towards climate-neutrality. The industry is transforming its activities and products to contribute with practical and responsible solutions to a more sustainable transport sector and a climate neutral future in Europe by 2050. The session will stimulate a debate on how industry and regulators can accelerate these developments, which policy framework will enable this transformation, on how to create the lead markets for low-carbon products, more specifically within the current Green Deal, NextGenerationEU and tax scheme. The conversation will offer the opportunity to look into the challenges faced by specific transport sectors such as Aviation but also the shares of road transport. Also, we will explore how a dialogue with policymakers and a multi-stakeholder engagement approach can guide sustainable business transformation in a sustainable and competitive way.
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Laurent Donceel: Amidst the crisis from the coronavirus pandemic, the importance of sustainability hasn’t gone away. Both concerns need to be addressed. / The impact the current pandemic has on the industry might speed up innovation. / “What about #Flight shaming? “The enemy is #CO2, not #transportation! We have been decoupling #CO2 #emissions over the past years. / Passengers play a role such as #regulation does.”
Giuseppe Ricci: “During the hardest time of the pandemic, the energy sector remained in operation, which shows how robust this sector is.” / “During the hardest moment of the pandemic, the energy sector remained in operation & was in conditions to supply all the energy necessary for the economy, for the essential services & citizens” / ‘We will need to invest a lot of money to help the EU economy recover. These investments should be in accordance with #EUClimateTargets but we should adopt a technology neutrality approach.”
Adina Valean: #COVID19 crisis has brought many opportunities. The #GreenDeal and digitalization will be two important pillars of the recovery plan. The money granted by Member States and the EU for sustainable investment will support the transport sector
DAY 1
15:00-15:30
Channel 1
A CONVERSATION WITH COMMISSIONER SINKEVICIUS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF A SUSTAINABLE EUROPE
Virginijus Sinkevicius
European Commissioner for Environment and Oceans and Fisheries
Chris Burns
Independent Journalist
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Virginijus Sikevicius: #sustainability How do you mobilise Europeans? “We have to start by changing the minds of #EU citizens. Investing in a clean environment always pays back & is essential to ensure our health & quality of life.”
DAY 1
15:30-16:30
Channel 1
EUROPE’S ECONOMIC RECOVERY
Valdis Dombrovskis
Executive Vice-President for Economy and Trade
European Commission
Diana Layfield
President for EMEA Partnerships
Google
Maria Tadeo
Reporter for Bloomberg Television
Jason Warner
President Europe
Anheuser-Busch InBev
Nicola Villa
Executive Vice President, Strategic Growth and
Global Lead, Government Center of Excellence
Mastercard
Markus J. Beyrer
Director General
BusinessEurope
The European union is facing planetary emergencies linked to the global sanitary crisis, the environment, the economy, and our social and political systems. Europe needs to rethink the role of economy. How can companies survive the second vague and how the EU can help them? When the EU recovery package will reach the Member States? NextGeneration EU: How can it helps companies to get capital injections/loans? How could the Union and the European companies and SMEs create adaptive and long-term solutions? How to seize trade opportunities and how it can contribute to the recovery? How could we use trade tools to support sustainable development?
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Valdis Dombrovskis: It is important to develop the #COVID19 #vaccines asap. The challenge is producing them on a large scale. The 2nd wave has slowed down the economic #recovery. The #EU is expected to recover its pre-crisis GDP levels at the end of 2022. / We need the EU’s €1.82 trillion recovery package in place as quickly as possible so that money can start to flow into the real economy. I hope all sides know how much this money is needed: people and businesses are waiting. #RRF / “Speaking at #EBS2020 on reviving the transatlantic relationship as #EU, #US work together as strategic partners to face challenges in the economy, trade, security, and other areas of cooperation”
Nicola Villa: “Digitizing SMEs is the most pressing issue now. “
Diana Layfield: “We will be #carbonfree by #2030, we are absolutely looking forward to working more closely with the #EU on the green agenda. / “The US is the most critical trading partner for Europe. The #EU and #USA share core values that we need to build on. We are moving towards a new area of transatlantic cooperation.”
Jason Warner: “A vision for green and digital transformation is exactly what we are aiming for. As a large multinational we are proud that we can play a part in a leadership role.”
DAY 1
16:30-16:45
Channel 1
THE EUROPEAN GREEN DEAL AT THE CORE OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY
Chris Burns
Independent Journalist
Philippe Lamberts
Co-president of the Greens/EFA group
European Parliament
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Philippe Lamberts: “We have to mobilise actors of change – governments, NGO’s, civil society. We can do it!” / “How to jump start Europe’s economy? “We need clarity and determination. Market players will then invest in the right direction!”
DAY 1
16:45-17:45
Channel 1
EUROPE’S CIRCULAR ECONOMY OPPORTUNITIES
Joanna Drake
Deputy Director-General DG ENV
European Commission
Sasha Vakulina
Journalist
Euronews
Emmanuel Katrakis
Secretary General
European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EuRIC)
Vasileios Rizos
Research Fellow and Head of Sustainable
Resources and Circular Economy
CEPS
Françoise Bonnet
Secretary General
Association of Cities and Regions
for sustainable Resource management (ACR+)
The Europe’s economy still remains very resources dependent and its model of value creation is wasteful. The business, political and academic communities are increasingly aware of the opportunities offered by adopting circular economy principles to benefit Europe environmentally and socially. Circular economy offers to Europe a major opportunity to increase resource productivity, decrease resource dependence and waste, and increase employment and growth. How could recycling and the circular economy help the EU achieving the targets set by the EU Green Deal and unleash innovation?
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Joanna Drake: “We have seen #circulareconomy being a success the first time around, now we have to dig deeper and businesses should rethink their models. Waste has to be prevented “
Vasileios Rizos: “All of the signs on the market indicate that there can be opportunity for new approaches and innovation.”
Françoise Bonnet: “#Consumers are ready to spend to get a product that will last, is #reparable and will be easily #recycled but they don’t have enough information on the products. We need a clear #legal #framework with targets, obligations and incentives”
Emmanuel Katrakis: “If we want to be successful, we need to move towards a #circulareconomy. ” / “#circulareconomy The EU should keep pushing for recycling products or impose taxation in order to reach its sustainable goals.”
DAY 1
17:45-18:00
Channel 1
HOW TO COUPLE EDUCATION AND INNOVATION POLICIES FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH?
Ufuk Akcigit
Arnold C. Harberger Professor of Economics
University of Chicago
Chris Burns
Independent Journalist
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Ufuk Akcigit : “Slowdown of productivity growth maybe related to the fact that businesses are not sharing their #innovation” / “We need to realise that behind #innovation there is the basic research step. Without proper founding in this area we cannot thrive.”
DAY 1
18:00-18:05
Channel 1
CLOSING WORDS
Arnaud Thysen
Director General
European Business Summits
PARTNERS
