An event organized by BusinessEurope took place in Brussels on October 12, 2026, where European Commission Executive Vice-President Theresa Ribiera delivered remarks. She thanked the organization for the opportunity to bring together business representatives and European institutions to discuss strategic issues in industrial development. The central theme of her speech was the choice facing Europe: how large a share of industrial production and technology should be controlled directly by European structures in the context of growing global competition. Ribiera emphasized the importance of the Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) mechanism — a program that allows EU member states to jointly finance major innovative projects in strategic sectors such as microelectronics, hydrogen energy, battery technologies, and cloud computing. According to the EU commissioner, such projects help pool resources from different member states, reduce technological dependence on third countries, and strengthen the competitiveness of European industry on the global market. She noted that cooperation with the business community, including BusinessEurope as the largest association of European employers, is a key condition for the successful implementation of such initiatives. The speech fits into a broader discussion on the European Union's industrial policy, which in recent years has become increasingly important against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions and the EU's pursuit of technological sovereignty.