European Industry Summit 2026
European Industry Summit in Antwerp: A Call to Secure Europe’s Industrial Future
Antwerp, 11 February 2026
Europe’s industrial and political leaders gathered today at the European Industry Summit to deliver a clear and urgent message: there is no resilient, safe, or strong Europe without a strong European industry.
More than 500 business leaders, alongside workers from across Europe’s industrial base, were joined by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever. Their joint presence reflected a growing recognition that Europe’s competitiveness crisis is deepening, while the future of high-quality industrial jobs is increasingly at risk.
Investment is leaving Europe. Industrial sites are closing. Strategic value chains are under pressure. The message from Antwerp was unequivocal – Europe must move from diagnosis to delivery, and it must do so now.
Industrial Minerals: A Foundation of Europe’s Industrial Strength
Within this broader call for action, the industrial minerals sector – together with RAW Materials Europe -highlighted a critical pillar of Europe’s resilience: secure, sustainable, and socially supported raw materials value chains.
Industrial minerals are indispensable to Europe’s economy and daily life. They enable construction, manufacturing, chemicals, healthcare, clean technologies, agriculture, and digital infrastructure. From energy transition technologies to essential manufacturing processes, Europe’s industrial transformation depends on reliable access to these materials.
Beyond the strategic importance, industrial minerals operations sustain regional economies, support thousands of skilled jobs, and contribute to social stability in many parts of Europe. Strengthening the sector therefore means strengthening communities, employment, and public trust in Europe’s industrial future.
Structural Challenges Threatening Europe’s Raw Materials Base
Despite its essential role, the industrial minerals sector faces mounting structural pressures that risk weakening Europe’s industrial foundation:
- Lengthy, complex, and unpredictable permitting procedures
- Increasing restrictions on land access for responsible extraction
- Rising energy and regulatory compliance costs
- Growing dependency on external suppliers for essential raw materials
- Investment uncertainty affecting long-term industrial planning
If left unaddressed, these challenges will further erode Europe’s competitiveness, increase strategic dependencies, and put industrial employment at risk.
From Strategy to Action: Emergency Industrial Policy Measures
In response, the Antwerp Declaration Community is calling on EU leaders to adopt a package of Emergency Industrial Policy Measures to restore competitiveness and strengthen resilience.
Key priorities include:
- Scaling up responsible domestic extraction of raw materials
- Accelerating and simplifying permitting for strategic EU projects
- Expanding processing and recycling capacity within Europe
- Strengthening reliable international partnerships to diversify supply and reduce dependencies
- Ensuring a predictable and competitive framework for industrial investment
These measures are not about resisting change – they are about enabling Europe to lead the green, digital, and industrial transitions.
A Decisive Moment for Europe
The European Industry Summit in Antwerp marks a turning point. Europe faces a strategic choice: allow industrial decline and increasing dependency, or take decisive action to rebuild competitiveness, resilience, and industrial leadership.
A secure and responsible raw materials foundation is essential not only for Europe’s industry, but for its economy, its workforce, and its strategic autonomy.
Europe must act now — to safeguard its industry, support its workers, and secure its future.
