Brussels, 30 January 2025
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a pleasure to be here with you today.
First and foremost, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the organizers, the Delphi Economic Forum, and President Tsomokos for their kind invitation. I would also like to congratulate President Tsomokos and his team for their outstanding work. Their efforts are not only significant but also incredibly timely.
Now, allow me to begin by setting the scene.
Today’s reality will undoubtedly become a fascinating case study for future historians. For decades, we had grown accustomed to peace in Europe, to collaboration, and to deep political and economic ties. But the pandemic and the war that returned to our continent shattered the stability we had taken for granted for years.
At the same time, other challenges emerged:
- Intensifying global competition and protectionism,
- The ever-urgent climate crisis,
- The rapidly advancing technological revolution,
- Divisive politics and a cost-of-living crisis.
Some see this as an existential crisis for Europe. But I can assure you, we are stronger than that.
In these uncertain and destabilizing times, what is most important is for Europe to have a steady, measured response—one that addresses immediate challenges while also laying the foundation for a secure and prosperous future. And that is precisely what we are doing through the priorities set in the political guidelines for 2024-2029.
Our aim is to address:
- Prosperity and competitiveness,
- Defence and security,
- People, societies, and our social model,
- Quality of life,
- Democracy and values,
- Power and partnerships,
- Preparing our Union for the future.
In each of these priorities, transport and tourism play key roles. They are beacons of stability, pragmatism, and common sense. This is why these two sectors carry a huge responsibility—and we are ready for that. We are already working on policies, strategies, and concrete plans:
- To ensure transport and tourism support EU competitiveness and sustainability,
- To ensure Europeans are well connected, safe, and secure,
- To transition to greener, smarter transport and tourism while keeping mobility affordable, accessible, and well-staffed.
Now, let me focus on competitiveness.
As you may know, earlier today, we launched the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the European Automotive Industry. This industry has long been a pillar of the European economy—from the iconic brands that define our automotive heritage to the millions of jobs across the continent. It has contributed massively to Europe’s prosperity and is Europe’s largest private R&D investor. Our vehicle exports surpass our imports by more than €100 billion. The European automotive sector directly and indirectly accounts for 13 million jobs and 7% of EU GDP.
I can assure you: we will not let this sector down under any circumstances. I will develop the EU Industrial Action Plan for the automotive sector, which I will present in 2025.
Competitiveness runs throughout the Commission’s priorities, and it is one of my personal priorities as well. The Competitiveness Compass will soon be presented, followed by the Clean Industrial Deal. Both strategies will have three overarching pillars: innovation, decarbonization, and economic security.
Transport is a vital contributor to competitiveness. In Europe, we have 1.4 million companies active in transport and storage—over 99% of them are SMEs. They drive our economy, and we must support them, including by cutting red tape. We also have industrial champions—some must work hard to retain global leadership in the face of growing competition, while others must regain it.
My goals are clear:
- Defend our industry and its workers,
- Reduce our dependencies,
- Create a level playing field,
- Fulfill our climate objectives.
Tourism is another area where Europe is a global superpower. With 3 million active SMEs, most of them family-run businesses, tourism is at the heart of our economy and culture. I am already working on a comprehensive European Strategy for Tourism to ensure this sector continues to thrive and adapt to future challenges.
Rail is central to the TEN-T and is one of the greenest modes of transport. Completing the railway network and connecting cities by high-speed rail is a priority. We are working on a plan to achieve this. For example, travel time from Hamburg to Copenhagen will be reduced from 4 hours 20 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes. Individuals and businesses have shown they are willing to switch to rail—including night trains—when it offers affordable, convenient, and reliable solutions.
Moreover, aviation and maritime are key sectors. I am already preparing a European Ports Strategy while also developing a modern industrial strategy for shipping. In addition, we are working on the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan to support the production and affordability of sustainable fuels for both aviation and maritime. This is a key objective, which I plan to present later this year.
Finally, we must deal with practical social issues:
- Protection from transport poverty,
- Reducing geographical isolation,
- Ensuring accessibility for persons with reduced mobility so they can use public transport.
Many people rely on transport daily. They count on us to keep it affordable, available, and safe—just as businesses count on us to connect people, places, and goods. I want to assure them: they can continue to rely on us.
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is true—we are experiencing turbulence. But if we hold tight and work together, we will weather the storm.
Thank you!
Source – EU Commission