Von der Leyen Listens to German Industry Amid Climate and Trade Challenges

While CEOs were voicing their concerns to the Commission president, a few floors below, Teresa Ribera, commissioner for a clean industrial transition, was unveiling the bloc’s 2040 climate targets.

Von der Leyen’s European People’s Party is criticized for diluting the EU’s environmental agenda to maintain competitiveness, which seemed to satisfy the German visitors.

The Commission president was “listening very closely to the details,” said Hendrik Wüst, the minister-president of North Rhine-Westphalia, who was with the CEOs. “We have brought up several good topics to president von der Leyen, who will also support competitiveness,” he added. “We received quite a strong signal from her.”

Wüst is a member of von der Leyen’s party in Germany, the Christian Democratic Union within the European People’s Party group.

Industry representatives from other EU countries haven’t been as fortunate. Confindustria, the Italian business confederation, stated that Italian industry leaders never receive such facetime with the president.

However, the Germans showcased their ease of access. Markus Steilemann, CEO of chemicals company Covestro, told POLITICO this wasn’t his first meeting with the Commission’s top official. There have been “numerous occasions,” he said, due to his “numerous accountabilities within the European chemical industry, within the German chemical industry, but also as a CEO.”


Comments

3 responses to “Von der Leyen Listens to German Industry Amid Climate and Trade Challenges”

  1. Gas Man Avatar
    Gas Man

    Listening to CEOs in one room while setting ambitious climate targets in another – nothing like a good ol’ European juggling act! 🎪 Meanwhile, the rest of us are left watching from the sidelines like it’s a football match with no chances of getting a ticket. ⚽️💼

  2. Hitch Frenzy Avatar
    Hitch Frenzy

    Isn’t it charming how the Germans get a front-row seat to climate chats while the rest of us are still trying to book a ticket? 🎭 Meanwhile, the rest of us need a map and a prayer just to get a coffee with the bigwigs! 😂

  3. Admiral Tot Avatar
    Admiral Tot

    Typical, innit? While the Germans are schmoozing up top, the rest of us are left wondering if we need a telescope to catch a glimpse of the Commission president. 🤷‍♂️

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Last News

Türkiye Leave with a Late Answer

Türkiye Leave with a Late Answer

A Stoppage-Time Win for Türkiye Over the United States
Türkiye’s 3-2 victory against the United States in Los Angeles came too late to alter their World Cup path but held significant value. Having already been eliminated after narrow losses, Vincenzo Montella’s team found the determination and goals they missed earlier in Group D, while the co-hosts learned that even secured qualification doesn’t

Read More

Why Every Business Needs a Social Media Reputation Strategy Pre-Crisis

Why Every Business Needs a Social Media Reputation Strategy Pre-Crisis

London, June 29, 2026 – Eurotoday — social media reputation is becoming a central part of business risk management as organizations prepare for the growing impact of online conversations. Industry experts say companies are investing more in reputation monitoring and crisis communication plans to respond quickly when unexpected issues arise. A proactive approach is increasingly viewed as essentia

Read More

Kemi Badenoch Tests Her Andy Burnham Attack Lines

Kemi Badenoch Tests Her Andy Burnham Attack Lines

“Burnham won’t solve your problems, because Labour cannot solve your problems,” Farage has stated. “His plan for government is to act as continuity Starmer, and hope the rest of us are too stupid to notice.”
Early efforts are underway to challenge his authority. Reform has already demanded a general election, a call that Badenoch’s poorly polling Tories are resisting. Reform insiders hope Burnham

Read More

Methane Regulations Highlight EU Energy Security

Methane Regulations Highlight EU Energy Security

EU energy ministers gathered in Luxembourg on Friday to discuss methane regulations, which are becoming a politically sensitive issue concerning supply security, fossil fuel reliance, and Europe’s climate law integrity.
The agenda of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council is extensive, including topics like electricity grids, post-2030 energy policy, and the effects of Middle East i

Read More

How Crisis Communication Can Shield Your Brand from Negative Publicity

How Crisis Communication Can Shield Your Brand from Negative Publicity

London, June 28, 2026 – Eurotoday Newspaper — Crisis communication strategy is gaining renewed attention as businesses strengthen their response plans to manage negative publicity and protect brand reputation. Communication experts say organizations that prepare before a crisis occurs are more likely to maintain customer trust and reduce long-term reputational damage.
With social media accelerat

Read More

US and Iran to Resume Talks Following Weekend Strikes

US and Iran to Resume Talks Following Weekend Strikes

After an Iranian projectile hit a cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, the U.S. military announced on Saturday that it had targeted Iranian surveillance infrastructure, communications systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities, and minelaying capabilities. Iran retaliated by launching missiles and drones at U.S. military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait following additional Ameri

Read More

Indonesia and the EU at a Crossroads: Human Rights, Trade, and the Cost of Partnership

Indonesia and the EU at a Crossroads: Human Rights, Trade, and the Cost of Partnership

Reflecting on the 21 May EU Resolution and discussions at the Graduate School of Sustainable Development, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, 26 June 2026
Jakarta (28 June 2026) – The European Parliament, on 21 May 2026, passed its first resolution on human rights in Indonesia in nearly a decade, with a vote tally of 469 to 38. This resolution coincides with the recent EU-Indonesia free trade agreeme

Read More

Investigation Launched into French Civilian Aircraft Incident

Investigation Launched into French Civilian Aircraft Incident

Paris, France, June 28, 2026 – Eurotoday Newspaper — Civil aviation investigation is underway after French authorities responded to an incident involving a civilian aircraft, triggering an immediate emergency response and a detailed technical review. Aviation officials secured the area, assisted passengers and crew, and launched an investigation to establish the facts surrounding the event. Auth

Read More

Record Heat Turns Europe’s Warnings Into an Emergency

Record Heat Turns Europe’s Warnings Into an Emergency

France, Spain, and the UK Set or Challenge June Heat Records Amid Rising Health, Infrastructure, and Wildfire Risks Across Europe
Europe’s late-June heatwave has escalated from a forecast warning to a public safety emergency, with the World Meteorological Organization reporting record temperatures, tropical nights, and increasing pressure on health systems, schools, transport, and energy i

Read More

Europe’s strategic autonomy starts on the road

Europe’s strategic autonomy starts on the road

Grid access is becoming another significant obstacle. Even when operators are willing to invest, deployment frequently faces delays due to limited capacity, lengthy connection times, power delivery reliability, and unpredictable electricity expenses. The three A’s of the grid — accessibility, affordability, and assurance — will be crucial for the successful electrification business model.
Si

Read More