What should a more competitive Europe deliver for its citizens? Download our free report

14 Sep 2026, 05:00 by https://euobserver.com/author/alejandro-tauber/ · EUobserver

Ursula von der Leyen delivering the 2025 State of the European Union address. (Source: European Commission)

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By Alejandro Tauber,

EUobserver’s first Stakeholder Report bring together people working on European policy to examine the choices facing the EU and what they mean for citizens. Through interviews and analysis, we explore competing perspectives, practical priorities and questions that deserve a wider debate.

Economic Competitiveness and European Citizens, published ahead of Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union address on 16 September, asks a question that should inform both the speech and the political year ahead: how can Europe’s economic ambitions translate into better lives for Europeans?

Authored by EUobserver’s European affairs director Dan Luca, the report draws on 11 experts from economic policy, academia, business and public affairs, each responding to the same 12 questions.

The report examines how Europe can strengthen its single market, mobilise investment and build on its industrial strengths – while sustaining its social model. It also explores the role of skills and migration, the opportunities and challenges of enlargement, and whether national and European institutions have the capacity to turn decisions into results.

The contributors disagree on important questions, including how much power and funding the EU needs and whose interests shape the debate. But their answers all question a central issue: whether competitiveness produces improvements people can recognise, from affordable energy and quality jobs to reliable infrastructure and stronger public services

As von der Leyen sets out her priorities, the report offers a framework for judging what follows: concrete projects, credible financing and visible benefits

Download the report here or read it below:

And to discuss the findings, suggest a topic or explore working with EUobserver on a future stakeholder report or policy communication, contact Dan Luca at DL@euobserver.com.

Many thanks to contributors to the report:

Lúcio Vinhas de Souza, Chief Economist at BusinessEurope and Director of its Economics Department.

Karel Lannoo, CEO of the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS).

László Andor, Secretary-General of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS).

Peter Hefele, Head of the Department of Economic Education at the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) and Policy Director at the Martens Centre for European Studies.

Micael Castanheira, Research Director at the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research (FNRS), and Professor at the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management at ULB.

Elaine Cruikshanks, founding partner of Acumen Public Affairs.

Isabelle De Vinck, Managing Partner at Political Intelligence Brussels.

Frédéric Soudain, Managing Partner at Logos Public Affairs.

Feriel Saouli is CEO of SEC Newgate EU.

Jan Dröge, a partner at Schuman Associates and serves as Chief Operating Officer.

Roxana Moldovan, an Account Director at Red Flag Brussels.

This stakeholder article is paid for by a third party. All opinions in this article reflect the views of the author and not of EUobserver.

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