The global world order is shifting rapidly.
Europe is faced with geopolitical instability, systemic rivalry, and growing security threats.
At the same time, industries across the continent are undergoing profound transformation, driven by new technologies, the green transition, and changing security needs.
Business leaders call for stronger European competitiveness in meeting with heads of state in Copenhagen
To remain strong, Europe must move from “from reaction to action” – delivering reforms that strengthen competitiveness, resilience, and industrial leadership.
Industry Meets Politics
Following these talks, heads of state and senior European representatives joined the summit for the official handover of the joint declaration “Europe from Reaction to Action.”
“Thank you all for being here today. Your commitment today means a lot to us standing here today”, said the Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark.
“If you [the industry] do not succeed, then we will not success, and that cannot be the conclusion about Europe. And we cannot wait for others to do the job for us as Europeans. The era of buying cheap energy from somewhere and good set of security from abroad is over, and we need to take on the responsibility on our own shoulders,” said PM Fredriksen to the 28 business leaders.
Policy Priorities for a Stronger Europe
The declaration outlines a series of policy priorities designed to move Europe from fragmented responses to a more proactive and coordinated strategy. Among its recommendations are reducing regulatory barriers and unlocking innovation, incentivizing private investment in strategic industries, ensuring clean and competitive energy, building a resilient defence industrial base, and advancing Europe’s technological resilience. Together, these measures aim to close the annual €800 billion investment gap identified by the Draghi report and to position Europe more firmly in global competition.
“We want to be more competitive, because this is the only way to have growth, to create jobs, to finance our social model and the future of our young people. We want to be more sovereign, because we have experienced for the past few years the cost of dependencies,” said President Macron of France.
For companies like KONGSBERG, the discussions in Copenhagen highlighted the importance of partnership and collaboration between governments and industry. CEO Geir Håøy emphasised that progress relies on cooperation between countries and industries:
“Looking at the tenets of this pledge, I recognise that these are ambitious initiatives, but I believe that together we can make the necessary changes to enable Europe to be stronger, more secure and more competitive. In my view, there are two key elements for success: industry and our nations.”
Investing in Capacity and Skills
Håøy also pointed to recent European initiatives as proof that rapid action is possible: “Industry must be incentivised and motivated to work across company walls and national boundaries. The ability to cooperate, to find each other and to build solutions together, is essential. At the same time, nations must also be incentivised to cooperate across borders. Europe has shown, time and again, that where there is a European will, there is also a European way to move fast and implement change quickly.”
KONGSBERG has a long tradition of investing in capacity, technology, and people. The company has expanded its manufacturing facilities, launched collaborations such as the Manufacturing Leadership MBA with the University of South-Eastern Norway, and continued to invest in innovation and student projects that encourage the next generation to pursue careers in technology. These efforts underline the company’s belief that competitiveness is built not only through financial investment but also by fostering skills, knowledge, and industrial cooperation.
