The launch of the COMPASS (COMpetitiveness Policy for Accelerating Sustainable Solutions) project brought together voices from the European Commission and the wider European policy community to reflect on one central question: how can Europe remain competitive, sustainable, and united in an era of accelerating uncertainty?
The conference also included breakout rooms, where participants had the opportunity to engage in in-depth discussions around the five thematic pillars of the COMPASS initiative. Each breakout room focused on one of the key areas shaping Europe’s future competitiveness: Tech & AI, Trade & Strategic Autonomy, Defence, Healthcare & Biotech, and Sustainability & the Clean Industrial Deal. Participants explored challenges, shared national and local perspectives, and discussed how these sectors can evolve in a way that is both innovative and aligned with European values.
Across all interventions, a clear message emerged: Europe’s economic future, environmental resilience and geopolitical position are deeply interconnected, and young people must play a central role in shaping what comes next.
Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and Competitive Circular Economy, highlighted that Europe is operating in a period of instability, where even environmental policies are being reshaped in response to emerging pressures. Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge; it is already reshaping ecosystems, from rivers and lakes to broader environmental systems that societies depend on.
These changes, she emphasized, are not only environmental but also economic. Climate impacts increasingly translate into competitiveness challenges for Europe. In this context, the green transition and economic competitiveness should not be viewed as competing priorities, but rather as two sides of the same strategic direction. A recurring emphasis was placed on the importance of ensuring that young people are placed at the center of this transformation.
A key discussion point during the conference was water resilience, increasingly recognised as one of Europe’s defining climate and economic challenges. Water scarcity, pollution, leakage, and inefficiency are no longer isolated environmental issues, they are systemic risks that affect food systems, public health, nature, and economic stability. The European Commission’s approach is moving toward a more integrated Water Resilience Strategy, focusing on scaling up smart water systems, improving efficiency, strengthening EU-wide standards, and increasing public awareness around responsible water use. In this context, GEYC also launched the Water4EU Manifesto, which can be signed at water4.eu, so that no citizen has to ask why water in public spaces is still a privilege.
From a geopolitical perspective, Susi Dennison, Senior Fellow and Director for European Power, European Council on Foreign Relations, underlined the importance of understanding Europe’s interdependencies. While external dependencies can be a source of strength through cooperation, they can also create vulnerabilities if they are not properly mapped and managed. She stressed the need for Europe to better understand where it is exposed and how those dependencies could potentially be leveraged against it in a geopolitical context. At the same time, internal division remains a key challenge. Europe’s ability to act collectively was described as essential, with unity being a fundamental condition for strategic strength in an increasingly complex global environment.
Joanna Drake, Deputy Director-General, Planet, People & Science for Policy, DG Research & Innovation, reflected on how uncertainty has become a defining feature of today’s global system. Geopolitical developments are reshaping supply chains, investment patterns, and research and innovation priorities across Europe and beyond. In this context, she highlighted the need for sustained and consistent sustainability policies, alongside a balanced perspective that recognises the long-term economic importance of environmental action. Innovation, research, and investment decisions are increasingly influenced by global volatility, making policy stability and strategic foresight more important than ever.
Nils Behrndt, Deputy Secretary-General, Policy Coordination - European Commission, emphasised that Europe continues to hold strong competitive advantages, particularly in sectors such as renewable energy. However, he also pointed to a persistent structural challenge: Europe’s difficulty in scaling innovation. While the continent produces strong ideas, research, and entrepreneurial initiatives, too few of these successfully scale into global solutions. Addressing this requires closing the innovation gap, aligning decarbonisation with competitiveness, and strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy by reducing critical dependencies.
Despite the diversity of perspectives, the conference converged on a shared understanding: Europe’s competitiveness, sustainability, and security are not separate challenges but interconnected dimensions of the same future. Turning ideas into scalable, systemic impact, while ensuring inclusivity and youth participation, will be essential for Europe’s ability to navigate uncertainty and remain globally relevant in the years ahead.
This Kickoff Conference is part of the COMPASS (COMpetitiveness Policy for Accelerating Sustainable Solutions) transnational youth engagement CERV project which aims to empower a diverse generation of young citizens to co-create evidence-based policy proposals on EU competitiveness through structured dialogue and deliberative learning, ensuring their insights directly influence high-level European strategic decision-making. Funded by: CERV - Citizens’ engagement and participation Project ID: 101253989
