Yesterday, Wednesday 14 May 2025, the Final Conference of Cantiere Europa was held at the European Parliament, in the presence of institutional representatives, partner companies, and key stakeholders.
On this occasion, I-Com presented the project’s final report, A Roadmap for Europe’s Competitiveness and Innovation, which you can now consult at the following link:
The event was opened by Ambassador Marco Canaparo, Deputy Permanent Representative of Italy to the EU, who delivered the institutional welcome remarks.
Following that, I-Com President Stefano da Empoli presented the final report, revisiting the insights that emerged from the meetings held over the past months and highlighting the key takeaways of the publication.
MEP Massimiliano Salini, host of the event and Member of the ENVI Committee, emphasized the importance of a constructive and productive relationship between institutions for EU competitiveness. He highlighted the need to leverage key tools—specifically the “free” tools of simplification, regulatory harmonization (or “better regulation”), and strengthening the Single Market, alongside the more “costly” but essential tool of increased and better-targeted investment. Salini also stressed the value of a strong Western alliance, asserting that Europe should not drift away from the United States. Following him, MEP Giorgio Gori, Vice Chair of the ITRE Committee, underscored the significance of the EU’s climate efforts, emphasizing that it is a global battle shared with the U.S. and China—not a solitary one. He noted the critical role of energy independence, urging the EU to act swiftly but prudently, maintaining a technology-neutral stance. Gori also called for scaling up Europe’s economy and refocusing antitrust policy to prioritize consumer welfare, which he argued has been overlooked. Lastly, MEP Pietro Fiocchi, Vice Chair of the ENVI Committee, stresses the importance of preserving a level playing field in Europe to ensure competitiveness. He criticizes the EU’s plan to ban PFAS, warning it will shift production abroad, leading to imports of PFAS-containing goods without solving the problem. He urges the Commission to act with common sense, warning that without it, Europe risks industrial decline.
Following the institutional panel, representatives of the partner companies contributed to the discussion, starting with Virgilio Falco, European Affairs, Enel; followed by Andrea Busetto, Public Policy and Government Relations Manager, Google;
Luca Franza, Head of European Affairs, Edison SpA;
Jean-Philippe Joliveau, Head of Public Affairs – Europe, NEXI Group;
and Alberto Zilio, Head of European Government Affairs, Ericsson.
The final report is available here.
