High-Level Plenary: Day 1
Sustainability For Business Value & Market Leadership
10:30AM - 12:30PM | 23 October 2025
Context
Competitiveness has become a defining priority for the EU amid intensified global competition and geopolitical tensions. However, restoring competitiveness must not come at the expense of sustainability. Instead, sustainability should be positioned as a catalyst for innovation, efficiency, and long-term market leadership.
As the regulatory framework continues to evolve, companies face growing complexity but also new opportunities. Unlocking the full business value of sustainability requires a clear roadmap that aligns corporate strategies with policy frameworks, fosters multi-stakeholder collaboration, and creates new market incentives for sustainable business models—instead of treating sustainability as a compliance obligation.
The 2025 European Sustainable Industry Summit will bring together companies, policymakers, and civil society to explore how sustainability can create tangible business benefits and competitive advantages, reinforcing Europe’s industrial leadership on the global scene.
Who should attend
CEOs/C-Suite Level Representatives
Sustainability Officers
EU Policymakers
Civil Society Organizations
agenda
| Time (CEST) | Session | Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| 09:30 – 10:30 | Registration & Networking | |
| 10:30 – 10:40 | Welcome & Opening Remarks |
 Stefan Crets, Executive Director, CSR Europe
|
| 10:40 – 10:50 | Special Address |
European Commission |
| 10:50 – 11:10 | Key-note Speeches |
Dara Murphy, Vice-President, Rasmussen Global 
Julie Kitcher, CSO, Airbus |
| 11:10 – 11:40 | Panel Discussion I – Turning Sustainability into Business Advantage Moderator: Peter Horsten, Senior Manager, CSR Europe + Q&A |
Wouter Vermeulen, Vice President Sustainability, Coca-Cola Europe 
Sylvain Comiti, Vice President Customer Line Deploy, TotalEnergies OneTech 
Fieke Fleskens, Head of Sustainability, Vanderlande
|
| 11:40 – 11:50 | Key-note Speech |
Amaryllis Verhoeven, Deputy Director & Head of Unit – Responsible Business Conduct, DG GROW
|
| 11:50 – 12:20 | Panel Discussion II – Bridging Policy and Business Priorities for Sustainable Growth Moderator: Stefan Crets, Executive Director, CSR Europe + Q&A |
Perrine Bouhana, Director, GlobeScan 
Renata Mele, Senior Vice President Sustainability, Leonardo 
Maria Cristina Papetti, Head of Sustainability Planning Stakeholders & Human Rights, Enel Group
|
| 12:20 – 12:30 | Closing Remarks | 
Filippo Bettini, Chair of the Board, CSR Europe & Senior Advisor Sustainability, Pirelli
|
About the High-Level Plenary
Following the insights of the Draghi Report, the European Commission has unveiled several initiatives (e.g., Competitiveness Compass, Omnibus Simplification Package and Clean Industrial Deal) aimed at streamlining business operations, amplifying investments for the green transition and boosting manufacturing capacities in green technologies.
This high-level plenary seeks to enrich the debate on fostering an environment where companies can thrive while being rewarded for their sustainability efforts. Speakers will explore pathways and tools to establish a long-term investment agenda, trusted partnerships, and concrete market opportunities that promote circular and net-zero solutions.
To leverage the full potential of the EU competitiveness agenda, the session will emphasise the following key priorities:
boost the demand for sustainable products
align on consumers’ needs, including in a B2B context
include more sustainability criteria in public procurement
foster international trade and partnerships
The focus will be on addressing the tension between short-term profitability and sustainability through well- designed policies that provide tangible economic incentives to reshape market dynamics, ultimately shifting from compliance to a business-driven approach that will unlock value and enhance competitiveness.
About the Summit
The European Sustainable Industry Summit 2025 is the premier gathering for business leaders and policymakers driving the next era of sustainable and competitive markets. This is where strategy meets action, equipping companies with the insights, connections, and tools to turn sustainability into a core business advantage.
This Summit is for forward-thinking companies leading the charge in shaping the next era of corporate sustainability practices, advancing a resilient, inclusive, and environmentally responsible Europe.
The industry of Europe is now at a pivotal moment, facing greater challenges than ever in the race to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, while advancing the transition toward a fully sustainable, resilient, and globally competitive economy. Achieving this change of direction requires concerted efforts and collaboration among all players.
Over two days, C-level representatives of business, European institutions, and civil society organisations will share invaluable knowledge and strategies to boost the engagement and impact of the European industry with stakeholders inside and outside Europe.