Luxembourg Reaffirms Commitment to Competitive & Sustainable European Industry at Berlin Conference

On Monday 3 November 2025, Luxembourg Minister of the Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism, Lex Delles, travelled to Berlin to attend the ministerial conference “Friends of Industry”.

According to the Ministry of the Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism, Minister Delles’ attendance reaffirmed Luxembourg’s commitment to a competitive, resilient and sustainable European industry. Organised this year on Monday 3 November in Berlin by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), the “Friends of Industry” conference focused on current industrial policy challenges. The event brought together 21 member states, as well as Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy at the European Commission. This was the eighth edition, continuing the series of meetings held in various European cities.

The introduction, delivered by Prof. Dr Justus Haucap of the Düsseldorf Institute for Competition Economics (DICE), opened the debate on the main economic obstacles that hinder the competitiveness of European companies. Subsequently, Lex Delles participated in a round table devoted to strengthening the competitiveness of European industry. This session discussed the priority measures to be implemented in a context marked by energy, digital and geopolitical challenges. Participants highlighted the key actions the European Commission should take, emphasising support for the digital transition, addressing increased global competition and fully leveraging the potential of digitalisation and artificial intelligence.

The ministry reported that in his comments, Minister Delles emphasised that the success of the climate transition will depend on Europe’s ability to reconcile environmental ambition with industrial competitiveness, providing a predictable framework, effective protection measures and a truly integrated single market to support sustainable investments. The minister also stressed that markets must increasingly rely on decarbonised products to ensure distribution opportunities for companies investing in low-carbon production processes. Minister Delles also reiterated the call to reduce remaining barriers between European countries to fully benefit from a single market of 450 million consumers. He also underlined that research and innovation must remain at the heart of long-term strategy, as they are essential to reducing dependencies and advancing decarbonisation.

At the conclusion of the round table, a joint declaration supported by Luxembourg was presented. According to the ministry, this joint declaration calls for regulatory simplification based on the “think small first” principle, acceleration of the digital transition and integration of artificial intelligence in industry, the creation of European reference markets for sustainable materials and technologies, strengthening industrial resilience — including better securing critical raw materials — and reinforced governance of the European Competitiveness Fund.

Minister Delles said: “Through this initiative, Luxembourg reaffirms its commitment to actively contributing to a strong European industry, capable of meeting the challenges of the twenty-first century while generating value, jobs and innovation.”

Moreover, during a ministerial working lunch, discussions further explored questions relating to strengthening industrial resilience and the European Union’s defence capabilities. Ministers exchanged views on the relevance of a European preference to support this resilience and on ways to implement it effectively, efficiently and without bureaucratic burden. The discussions also addressed the industrial and technological impacts of defence investments and explored means to maximise their innovation potential for the benefit of European industry.