Antwerp, 11 February 2026—Ahead of the European Council meeting in Alden Biesen on the 12th February, the Antwerp Declaration Community – representing more than 1,300 companies, associations, including the European Sealing Association (ESA), and trade unions across Europe – called on EU Heads of State and Government to take urgent and bold action to restore Europe’s industrial competitiveness, safeguard high-quality jobs for European workers, and turn the Clean Industrial Deal into outcomes felt on factory floors in 2026.
The ESA was represented at the European Industry Summit 2026, held at the 16th-century Stock Exchange in Antwerp. The event brought together more than 500 business leaders and 30 factory workers, alongside Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, Dutch Minister-President Dick Schoof, Austrian Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz – united in calling for urgent and bold action.
Their presence reflects the growing recognition that Europe’s competitiveness crisis is deepening – and that the future of high-quality industrial jobs in Europe is at stake. Europe’s industrial and political leaders came together to deliver a clear message:
There is no resilient, nor safe, nor strong Europe without a strong European industry.
In one of the most demanding times in European history, we need clarity, resolve, and a strong sense of purpose. Geopolitical shocks, structural dependencies, and ruthless global competition expose how essential a competitive industrial base is for Europe’s security and prosperity. Citizens want high-quality jobs in Europe, and SMEs – the backbone of Europe’s industrial fabric – are struggling everywhere.
This is a call for urgent and bold action from Antwerp to Europe’s leaders.
Industries face persistently high energy and carbon costs and unfair trade practices. The pace of site closures and job losses across vital sectors is unprecedented. The situation is worsening: only 11% of the Draghi recommendations have been implemented and 83% of the Antwerp Declaration Monitoring Report indicators have seen no improvement over the past two years.
Europe needs a package of Emergency Industrial Policy Measures focused on three areas:
- Bringing energy and carbon costs down: The costs of energy in Europe are simply too high to compete and are not only driven by commodity prices but also by regulatory charges.
- Supporting fair global trade and improving access to finance: Free trade agreements or other types of agreements should secure vital supplies for industry, enable access to new markets and increase exports. The EU should look at all policy instruments against unfair competition to ensure a real level playing field for EU industries both on the domestic and international markets, including carbon leakage protection.
- Being proud to buy products made in Europe: Lead the way through public procurement and private buyer initiatives endorsed by the EU. Empower consumers (businesses and private) to choose net-zero and circular products, based on transparent product and environmental carbon footprints, supporting high-quality jobs in Europe.
From ESA’s point of view, a pragmatic approach is needed from the EU towards fluoropolymers in the PFAS restriction process. An exemption of fluoropolymers in sealing applications is essential, as it affects ALL industries!
This is a decisive moment. Europe must act now to restore industrial competitivenes and safeguard high-quality jobs for European workers. We are not asking for protection from change, we are asking for the conditions to lead the change.
The ESA is looking forward to continued collaboration in shaping the future of our industries.
Our message is clear: “Save our Industry. Not next year, not next week, but today.”
Sandy Van den Broeck,
ESG Director, ESA