"Europe is faltering, factories are closing": Italian and French industrialists protest the EU

ROME – "Europe is faltering. Its factories are closing. Its energy bills are rising. Its voice is fading. Its geopolitical weight is diminishing," warn industrialists from Italy and France in " a joint call to action," the declaration signed by their presidents, Emanuele Orsini and Patrick Martin , on the occasion of the seventh forum between Confindustria and Medef. "In a world marked by geopolitical shocks, indecision represents the gravest threat . Europe must choose: compete or decline ." Even in the trade war. "Trade is power, it must be used," the leaders of the two organizations remind us. And again: "The verdict is clear: Europe can still win, but only if it acts now."

Italian and French industrialists, meeting again, this time in Rome, focused on Europe's challenges: industrial decarbonization and energy costs, defense industry, trade, and therefore the tariff war, and the EU budget , which they demand must be " oriented toward competitiveness : it's essential." With one firm point: "No new corporate taxes."

The green transition

Regarding decarbonization targets, "a crucial test for our industrial competitiveness," they warn: "The green transition is a necessity , but Europe risks turning it into an industrial trap. Without credible industrial guarantees, it risks triggering relocations, negative public opinion, and the disintegration of value chains." Skyrocketing energy costs "continue to undermine competitiveness and discourage investment. Without competitive, stable, and predictable energy prices, the transition cannot take place. The EU must urgently ensure price stability and strengthen support for energy-intensive sectors," say Medef and Confindustria , who "also call for full recognition of nuclear energy as a pillar of the decarbonization strategy."

With "the return of war to Europe," industrialists then want " a new European doctrine : strategic autonomy will remain an illusion without a credible and growing defense industrial base ," they warn. "The European Defense Industrial Program must be adopted without delay. Defense spending in the next Multiannual Financial Framework must increase significantly. Export controls, procurement rules, and capital requirements must be harmonized to facilitate cooperation and create economies of scale." France and Italy, "hosting major defense and aerospace industries, are ready to lead this transformation. It's not just about security, but also about jobs, innovation, and industrial revival across the continent."

The Brussels budget

The EU budget: "To lead the green, digital, and security transitions, Europe must mobilize an unprecedented amount of strategic investments. We need a bold and forward-looking Multiannual Financial Framework, combining a strengthened EU budget with a greater capacity to mobilize private capital. The current financial architecture is too fragmented and bureaucratic . It must be redesigned around a central objective: competitiveness. Every euro spent must be guided by criteria of simplification, coherence, and expected impact. But one principle must be clear: no new corporate taxes. European companies cannot be asked to finance and implement the transition at the same time."

The EU-Mercosur agreement

"In a global context where trade is increasingly a battleground," Confindustria and Medef note, "Europe must act with determination. Ratification of the EU-Mercosur agreement is a test of European credibility: it would demonstrate openness, assertiveness, and a willingness to diversify its alliances. The same urgency applies to the agreements with Australia, India, and Indonesia. In the face of growing transatlantic tensions, Europe must remain united and firm. Strategic naivety is no longer an option."