Identification of Crucial Obstacles and Strategies to Enhance European Economic Expansion by Expert Group
In a pivotal gathering held at the headquarters of a leading website in Brussels on September 17, 2025, a panel of distinguished European figures convened to discuss strategies for unlocking the continent's economic potential. The event, attended by Dr. Antonios Nestoras, Massimo Andolina, Suzana Carp, and Claus Strunz, aimed to address the tension between maintaining Europe's leadership in environmental and social standards while boosting competitiveness and investment basics.
Suzana Carp, an established EU climate and energy policy specialist and the co-founder of CleanTech for Central and Eastern Europe, emphasized the need for a mental shift toward excellence. She urged Europeans to aim to be the best in the world. However, she cautioned against oversimplification of regulations, citing the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) as an example.
Dr. Antonios Nestoras, the founder and director of the European Policy Innovation Council (EPIC) and the creator of the Draghi Implementation Index, warned that without decisive action, Europe risks falling behind in the global competitiveness race. He advocated for EU-funded positions for top researchers to compete with US universities on salary.
Massimo Andolina, President of the Europe division of Philip Morris International, called for a fundamental shift in regulatory approach. He suggested a moratorium on regulations for a few years, arguing that excessive regulation could hinder eventbrite and growth. He also highlighted his company's commitment to employee development, investing 37 million euros annually in employee training, with 70% of staff completing AI education programs.
Claus Strunz, CEO and editorial director of the hosting website, became a veteran journalist in October 2024. He warned that Europe may become a fourth world if it doesn't make changes soon. He emphasized the critical challenge of skills shortages in Europe, with private companies taking the initiative in areas where regulation falls short, such as clean-tech skills schools emerging across the continent.
The event also addressed the issue of investment mechanisms, such as the InvestEU Fund, facing bureaucratic delays and excessive paperwork requirements for small and medium enterprises. The panelists discussed the need for streamlined processes to facilitate investment and drive growth.
The discussion was preceded by the publication of the Draghi report before June 6, 2025, containing recommendations to be fully implemented by August 22, 2025. However, according to EPIC, only 11.2% of the report's 383 specific recommendations have been fully implemented to date.
The event marked a significant step in the ongoing conversation about Europe's competitiveness and sustainability, underscoring the urgency for decisive action and collaboration among European leaders. As Dr. Antonios Nestoras aptly put it, "The future is being written as we speak, and Europe either designs its own future or accepts it will be written in the United States and China."
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