On 1 February 2024, the CEO Alliance gathered its CEOs at the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Lund, Sweden for the biannual CEO meeting, hosted on this occasion by Skanska CEO Anders Danielsson. CEOs urge politicians and policymakers to hold the line on the European Green Deal, focusing on implementation and execution of the agreed plans, identifying a clear industrial policy aimed at making Europe globally competitive, reducing red tape and increasing support for digitalisation.
On digitalisation, the CEOs call for the need to support secure and reliable connectivity, innovation and the roll-out of cutting-edge technology – including artificial intelligence, and boosting investments in digital infrastructure and solutions supporting sustainability. We want a strong, innovative and competitive Europe. To achieve this, the legislative environment must be focused on incentivizing the opportunities we are facing, and not as today’s risk limiting approach. Through this, we can create progress and put Europe in the pole position.
The CEOs also exchanged views and provided concrete business examples on these important topics with Ditte Juul Jørgensen, European Commission Director General at the Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER), and with Sara Modig, Swedish State Secretary to the Minister for Energy, Business and Industry, Ebba Busch.
Anders Danielsson, CEO of Skanska and meeting host: “Skanska believes that the vision of a more prosperous, sustainable and resilient Europe, with a focus on reduced emissions, will require a collective effort from all EU member states and collaboration between the public sector and industry. The CEO Alliance is a concrete step in that direction. Based on each company’s core business, we are working together to develop models for a more sustainable society.”
The meeting was held at ESS (European Spallation Source), the research facility under construction in Lund, Sweden, with its data management and software centre in Copenhagen, Denmark. The construction of ESS was successfully completed in 2022 by Skanska. At the end of 2027, when the overall construction of the facility will be completed, ESS will be the world’s most powerful accelerator-based neutron source. Thousands of researchers from academia and industry will use the ESS facility to learn more about materials and biological systems, unlocking discoveries and driving innovative solutions to tackle global challenges, from energy to healthcare and sustainability.
For further information please contact: ceoalliance@kreab.com
About the CEO Alliance: We are a cross-sector action tank consisting of leading European companies representing key industry sectors, with ~1.6 million employees and ~EUR 560 billion annual revenue. We use our broad platform to make decarbonization of European industry happen. In spite of the challenging times we firmly believe that the only way forward for a competitive, prosperous, resilient and sustainable Europe is an acceleration of the transition to green energy and technology. Further information about our work is available on our website, www.ceo-alliance.eu.
