On Wednesday 16 September 2026, the Federation of Luxembourg Industrialists (FEDIL) announced its support for renewed efforts to strengthen the European economy, following European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s 2026 State of the Union address.
FEDIL, which represents Luxembourg’s industrial sector, welcomed the European Commission President’s decision to place economic recovery at the top of the Commission’s priorities, while highlighting several areas in which it believes further action is needed.
The federation noted that President von der Leyen had confirmed plans to reduce economic dependencies in strategic sectors and strengthen the European Union (EU)’s industrial capacity while maintaining trade with partner countries.
According to FEDIL, this balance between openness and strategic autonomy broadly reflects the positions expressed by industry and political representatives during its recent Industry Day 2026. However, the federation argued that greater European strategic autonomy should primarily be achieved through improved competitiveness rather than through a widespread application of European preference policies.
FEDIL cautioned that such measures should not result in additional regulatory requirements, administrative burdens or barriers within the EU Single Market. It also echoed President von der Leyen’s concerns about the slow progress made in implementing measures aimed at strengthening competitiveness and making better use of the Single Market, as outlined in the Letta and Draghi reports.
The federation also addressed the European Commission’s regulatory simplification efforts, including its twelve Omnibus proposals. While welcoming the simplification drive, FEDIL argued that many of the proposals concern recently adopted regulations that are not yet applicable and could still create additional administrative burdens for businesses compared with the current situation.
It welcomed President von der Leyen’s call for EU Member States to avoid “gold-plating”, whereby additional national requirements are introduced when implementing European legislation.
FEDIL also said it welcomes the focus on energy competitiveness amid continued high energy prices for European industry. It supports efforts to accelerate the development of low-carbon electricity produced in Europe through renewable and nuclear energy, alongside investment in electricity grids and storage capacity.
According to the federation, such measures are important for reducing Europe’s dependence on fossil fuel imports while ensuring reliable energy supplies for industry at competitive prices.
FEDIL expressed support for measures promoting innovation and technological and digital development as drivers of economic growth and resilience amid geopolitical challenges. At the same time, it cautioned that excessive regulation could limit Europe’s potential in these areas, describing the search for an appropriate balance between innovation and regulation as a long-term challenge.
