Spotlight Event: European competitiveness in an Age of Rivalry

On Thursday, 23 April 2026, the Jacques Delors Centre welcomed Clément Beaune, France’s High Commissioner for Strategy and Planning and former European affairs adviser to President Emmanuel Macron, for a keynote address followed by a discussion with the Centre’s Co-Director, Thu Nguyen. Opening the event, Dean of Research and Faculty Mark Hallerberg recalled the close ties between Beaune and the late Hertie School president Henrik Enderlein and highlighted the urgency for the European Union to strengthen its competitiveness in a changing global context.

Deepening European cooperation

Beaune began his remarks by reflecting on his personal experience of European integration, recalling in particular how his Erasmus stay in Dublin shaped his strong commitment to cooperation among EU member states.

Now serving as High Commissioner for Strategy and Planning – a position once held by Jean Monnet, as Beaune noted with a smile – he aims to “strengthen Europe’s treasury of cooperation”. In a world marked by geopolitical rivalry and intensifying economic competition, he argued, the European Union must adapt and deepen cooperation, particularly in areas such as defence, climate policy and technology.

Two structural challenges: demographics and economic competition

Beaune nonetheless identified two major obstacles to closer cooperation. The first is demographic: ageing populations and declining birth rates are placing increasing pressure on public finances, including in sectors such as education. In his view, these developments are contributing to growing support for far-right parties.

The second challenge is external, particularly linked to trade pressure from China, which exposes Europe’s economic vulnerabilities. Beaune pointed to the high share of European production exposed to Chinese competition, underlining the need for a more strategic economic response.

A call for more ambitious European action

In response to these challenges, Beaune called for a change of approach. The European Union, he argued, needs ambitious and forward-looking ideas, including broader tariff measures towards China. More fundamentally, he urged European policymakers to rediscover the ambition of the founding generation of European integration, who demonstrated that deep cooperation is possible.

Discussion with Thu Nguyen

In the discussion that followed, Thu Nguyen challenged Beaune on the feasibility of his proposals, including the scope for compromise in trade policy, Europe’s dependence on Chinese raw materials, and the practical implementation of his economic vision at the EU level. She also raised the role of Franco-German relations in advancing European initiatives.

In his responses, Beaune emphasised how rapidly China’s position in the global economy has evolved and linked Europe’s current situation to delays in implementing key reforms, notably those outlined in the Draghi report. While acknowledging that some dependencies will persist, he stressed the importance of de-risking strategies and a long-term perspective, pointing to the high potential costs of inaction.

On Franco-German relations, Beaune struck a cautiously optimistic tone, arguing that clear objectives, firm deadlines and sustained political engagement could enable both countries to play a leading role in strengthening Europe’s competitiveness and responding to global challenges.

Questions from the audience

The event concluded with a Q&A session. Participants raised questions on Europe’s ability to act under time pressure, proposals for a smaller or more integrated Europe, the idea of a European defence union, and the implications of the upcoming French presidential elections.

Watch a recording of the event below.

Photo credits: Sebastian Pfütze