Pedro Sánchez discusses the challenges facing industry with top executives from leading European multinationals

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

The President of the Government pointed out the importance of improving competitiveness for the necessary reindustrialisation of the European economy, indicating that in the current complex global geopolitical context, the strengthening of open strategic autonomy will be one of the priorities of the executive during the Spanish Presidency of the EU.

The meeting was also attended by the Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto; the president of this forum, which brings together 60 CEOs and directors of large multinational companies with a European parent company from industrial and technological sectors, and of Vodafone, Jean-François van Boxmeer; and other top executives and representatives of ERT, Dimitri Papalexopoulos (TITAN Cement), José María Álvarez-Pallete (Telefónica), Guillaume Faury (Airbus), Ignacio Sánchez Galán (Iberdrola), Ilham Kadri (Solvay), Thomas Leysen (Umicore), Carl-Henric Svanberg (AB Volvo) and Peter Wennink (ASML).

The president also highlighted our country's competitive advantages, with leadership in connectivity and renewable energies as differential elements, which place Spain at the centre of the green and digital transitions. Pedro Sánchez also defended the importance of digital skills and the retraining of workers, underlining Spain's firm commitment to this area, always with a focus on the inclusion of all citizens.

Non official translation