The Rhine-Meuse Meeting, held on 30 September 2025, co-organised by the representations of Grand Est and Baden-Württemberg to the European Union, in cooperation with the Benelux Union and the Mission of Switzerland to the EU, brought together around fifty participants to discuss the challenges of European competitiveness.
At the heart of the discussions was the need to support businesses and regions in strengthening their resilience and attractiveness in the face of global economic transformations. Speakers emphasised several key levers, including strengthening industrial production, simplifying administrative procedures, protecting European stakeholders from unfair trade practices, and ensuring a level playing field within the Single Market.
We had the pleasure of welcoming Anne Sander, President of Grand Est-Europe; Estelle Göger, Deputy Head of Cabinet to the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy; Patrick Rapp, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism of Baden-Württemberg; and Claude Sturni, Vice-President of the Grand Est Region in charge of Economic Development, Research and Innovation.
Contributions from Jean-Claude Meyer (Benelux Union) and Conradin Rasi (Mission of Switzerland to the European Union), as well as from economic experts Dr. Jan Stefan Roell (Ministry of Industry and Trade of Baden-Württemberg) and François Mazière (CCI Grand Est), enriched the debate with concrete analyses and perspectives to strengthen cross-border cooperation.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of advancing the energy and digital transitions simultaneously, while considering how best to promote a “European preference” in trade and industrial practices.
This Rhine-Meuse Meeting confirms that, in a context of profound economic transformation, it is essential to support innovation and the competitiveness of European businesses, while consolidating cross-border partnerships.
