The Sustainable Growth & Competitiveness Summit 2024

The inaugural Sustainable Growth and Competitiveness Summit marked a pivotal step in addressing the challenge of balancing climate neutrality with economic competitiveness in Europe. Organised by EPICO KlimaInnovation in collaboration with leading European think tanks OIKOS (Spain), ECCO think tank (Italy), Green Economy Institute (Poland), Institute of European Right (Lithuania), Ecologie Responsable (France), and EPG - Energy Policy Group (Romania), the event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and experts to chart a path for a sustainable and resilient Europe.

A key highlight was Krzysztof Bolesta, Poland’s State Secretary for Climate and Environment, who underscored the critical importance of energy security for economic resilience. Reflecting on the upcoming Polish Presidency of the EU, he stated:

“After witnessing the attacks on critical energy infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, the upcoming Polish Presidency of the EU believes that the notion of energy security should be enlarged to physical security, cyber security and the security of supply of clean tech. ”

His remarks gained further prominence through coverage by Euronews.

Another highlight of the summit was the engaging fireside chat with MEP Pilar del Castillo, who shared her insights on the role of innovation and infrastructure in advancing Europe’s energy and climate objectives. She noted:

“One of the consequences of the war in Ukraine is that it showed us that the EU is an economic giant, a competing actor on a global level, with chains in its hands due to its energy dependencies.”

Key themes from the discussions included:

The need to unlock the potential of the internal market by completing the Energy Union, with an emphasis on EU-wide solutions over administrative hurdles.
The importance of a unified industrial strategy to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and sustainability.
Progress on initiatives such as ENNOH and the Omnibus legislation to reduce administrative burdens, along with encouragement to sustain the momentum seen in agreements like MERCOSUR.

Pragmatism was a recurring theme, particularly regarding hydrogen. Rather than debating technicalities, such as colour coding, panellists advocated for a focus on practical applications. Both hydrogen and electrification were recognised as vital, with distinct roles depending on the context.

Broader themes of affordability, energy security, and social cohesion were interwoven throughout the discussions, emphasising the need to ensure that no one—especially vulnerable households—is left behind in the energy transition.

The Summit successfully aligned diverse perspectives, offering actionable insights to drive Europe’s energy transition forward while building a sustainable and competitive future.