LEARNING LABS
ESG as a Driver of Competitiveness, Growth, and EU Market Integration
Facilitator:
From 14.00 to 15.00
and from 15.00 to 16.00
13 October 2026
Context
Europe’s sustainability agenda is increasingly shaping global business expectations. While EU Member States are implementing comprehensive ESG legislation, candidate countries are progressing within less mature regulatory environments but are already facing growing expectations from investors, customers, and international value chains.
Using Albania as a practical case study, this Learning Lab will explore how voluntary ESG adoption can strengthen business competitiveness, support EU integration and help build resilient sustainability ecosystems before regulation becomes mandatory.
LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE
Included with your Summit pass.
Join the practitioners turning sustainability into business value.
13 to 14 October · Brussels
ABOUT THIS learning lab
This interactive Learning Lab will use Albania’s experience as a starting point for a broader discussion on how EU candidate countries can leverage ESG as a strategic business opportunity rather than simply a compliance requirement. Bringing together perspectives from business, professional services, civil society and the Albanian ESG Network, the session will encourage participants to exchange experiences and identify practical priorities for accelerating ESG adoption.
The discussion will also explore how stronger collaboration between businesses, governments, financial institutions and European partners can help candidate countries build credible ESG ecosystems that enhance competitiveness and facilitate integration into European markets.
Key learning Outcomes:
Understand why ESG should be viewed as a driver of competitiveness and long-term business value rather than solely a reporting obligation.
Identify the three strategic priorities candidate countries should focus on to accelerate ESG adoption.
Explore how businesses, governments and civil society can jointly strengthen national ESG ecosystems.
Discuss how European companies, investors and business networks can support ESG integration across candidate countries and their value chains.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Sustainability Directors and ESG Managers
CEOs and Business Leaders
Corporate Affairs and Public Affairs professionals
Investors and Financial Institutions
Representatives of EU Institutions
Sustainability Consultants
Civil Society Organizations
Academia and Research Institutions
Companies operating across European supply chains
LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE
Included with your Summit pass.
Join the practitioners turning sustainability into business value.
13 to 14 October · Brussels