Europe needs to take urgent action to deal with the challenges of the 21st century, including tackling climate change and preparing citizens for massive technological developments, a group of the continent’s leading large businesses has said today. The European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT), a group of 55 CEOs and Chairs of major European businesses, collectively responsible for around five million jobs globally as well as supporting many others, has today made its biggest collective intervention in the policy debate in the organization’s lifetime. Its new paper, Strengthening Europe’s Place in the World, points to the peace and prosperity that European integration has delivered to citizens over the past seven decades – but says that without coordinated action between governments, civil society and the private sector, Europe will fail to deliver for its citizens on the most pressing agendas of the century. ERT Members have also acknowledged the challenges presented by the rise of nationalist politics inside Europe and increasing protectionism in major markets outside Europe. So for the first time, these major companies have together committed to a series of pledges aimed at raising the prosperity of citizens and their trust in Europe’s capacity to deliver for them. They are:
Getting Europe’s largest companies to join together in these six pledges is more than a symbolic gesture: these are important commitments from companies who know they need to lead.
Carl Henric Svanberg
Chairman of the European Round Table of Industrialists
Carl Henric Svanberg, Chairman of the European Round Table of Industrialists, said: “Getting Europe’s largest companies to join together in these six pledges is more than a symbolic gesture: these are important commitments from companies who know they need to lead. We have never been more united and determined to stand up for Europe and the EU. This is a critical moment for citizens and these pledges are not made lightly. We are absolutely committed to creating jobs and prosperity across Europe but also ask policymakers to create the conditions to allow us to invest.” In addition to the six ERT pledges, Members have called on EU institutions, particularly the new Parliament and Commission, to focus on six policy priorities in the years ahead: European Round Table of Industrialists: The European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT) is a forum bringing together around 55 Chief Executives and Chairmen of major multinational companies of European parentage covering a wide range of industrial and technological sectors. Companies of ERT Members are widely situated across Europe, with combined revenues exceeding €2,250 billion. They invest more than €50 billion annually in R&D, largely in Europe and are collectively responsible for around five million jobs globally as well as supporting many others. Philips CEO Frans van Houten is a member of the ERT.
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