• Ministers, business leaders, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
  • Its a pleasure to have the opportunity to address you today.
  • Theres been a lot of talk lately that business should step back from social goals and focus on their bottom line.
  • So its really inspiring to see so many companies gathered here today.
  • Your presence and discussions today tell a different story.
  • It shows that business leaders understand that economic success and social progress go hand in hand.
  • That inclusive, responsible, and forward-looking businesses are not only good for society.
  • They are stronger, more resilient, and more competitive.
  • As policymakers, we recognise that businesses can help address societal challenges.
  • Companies are deeply rooted in their communities.
  • They understand local needs.
  • They have the creativity to design new solutions and the networks to scale them up.
  • When businesses mobilise their innovation, investment, and influence, they can accelerate social progress in ways that complement and reinforce public policy.
  • Our task is to create the right framework and the right incentives – so that businesses can drive social progress while remaining competitive.
  • For this, social dialogue is essential.
  • When employers and workers sit around the table, they find balanced solutions: solutions that promote decent work, social fairness and long-term competitiveness.
  • Social dialogue is a cornerstone of the European approach.
  • Earlier this year, we reaffirmed our commitment to strengthen the role of social partners [Pact for European Social Dialogue].
  • Effective enforcement of labour rights is also crucial.
  • When labour rights are not upheld, workers lose trust and responsible businesses face unfair competition.
  • The EU has strong laws to protect workers, and we are working to make sure they are applied effectively and up to date.
  • We also know that good enforcement depends on clear and simple rules.
  • Thats why the EU is reviewing its framework to cut unnecessary red tape and ensure our rules are fair, practical, and fit for purpose.
  • There is another area where the interests of businesses and the needs of society come together completely: skills.
  • As we heard earlier today, education and skills development have long been the most powerful drivers of social inclusion and upward mobility.
  • At the same time, they give businesses a skilled and adaptable workforce.   
  • Yet, today – especially in Europe – we see a growing mismatch between the skills people have and the skills businesses need.
  • This gap is visible at every level – from truck drivers and nurses to engineers and data scientists.
  • As a result, almost four in five businesses in the EU say they struggle to find staff with the right skills.
  • And labour shortages are now common across a wide range of sectors.
  • This is a brake on productivity, on investment and ultimately on growth.
  • Thats why one of the very first initiatives we launched was the Union of Skills.
  • Our goal is to make our education systems at all levels – from vocational training to higher education – more aligned with labour market needs, and to expand access to lifelong learning for workers.
  • Most upskilling happens in the workplace itself. Across Europe, more than two-thirds of companies already invest in training their employees.
  • To build on this momentum, we created the Pact for Skills: a platform that brings together businesses, education providers, and public authorities to align training with real industry needs.
  • Pact members have pledged to upskill 25 million workers by 2030.
  • But we want to go further.
  • Today, I call on members of the Pact to double their ambitions. And I invite all businesses not yet part of this growing community to join us.
  • Finally, let me add that the EUs efforts extend beyond our borders.
  • Through initiatives like the Global Gateway, we work with partner countries to support capacity building, skills and education, and the development of the local private sector.  
  • And the upcoming Talent Pool will support Member States in attracting talent in areas where there are shortages.
  • Ladies and Gentlemen,
  • When business and governments work together, we can turn shared challenges into shared progress.
  • The private sector has the creativity, the resources, and the reach to drive change.
  • Public institutions can create the conditions that make this possible.
  • The Political Declaration we are endorsing at this Summit renews our shared commitment to social progress and recognises the essential role of business in achieving it.
  • I invite you to join us in turning that commitment into concrete, measurable action.
  • Together, we can show that doing well and doing good are in fact two sides of the same coin.
  • Thank you.