11/06/2026
Europe’s industry is under pressure: high energy costs, intensifying geopolitical competition, and increasingly fragile supply chains. Can the Industrial Accelerator Act help Europe regain momentum?
Against this backdrop, the Europe Office of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, together with the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ), hosted an event this week titled 📍 “Industrial Accelerator Act – will it put Europe back in the fast lane?” at AT60, the House of Austrian Business in Brussels.
The event was opened by Dr. Beatrice Gorawantschy, Director of the Brussels Office of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and moderated by Dr. Eva Liebmann, Deputy Secretary General of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ).
💬 The discussion focused on Europe’s position in an increasingly competitive geo-economic environment: how to create demand for European production, strengthen strategic autonomy, and assess the role of local-content approaches in supporting EU industry. Participants also examined regulatory and permitting challenges, discussing whether measures such as faster approval procedures, one-stop shops, and industrial acceleration zones could help reduce bureaucratic complexity and speed up industrial development across Europe.
➡️ The exchange brought together representatives from Stéphane Séjourné’s cabinet, industry stakeholders, and the trade union IG Metall. While there was broad consensus on the overall objectives of the Industrial Accelerator Act, the discussion made clear that many of the key questions lie in the details - and that the Act’s success will ultimately depend on its implementation.
Our sincere thanks to all speakers for their valuable insights and contributions:
👉 Aleksandra Kordecka (Expert, Cabinet of Stéphane Séjourné)
👉 Philipp Tschinke Parsché (Head of Brussels Office, Salzgitter AG)
👉 Viktoriya Kerelska (Head of Advocacy & Messaging, WindEurope)
👉 Sophie Dura (Political Secretary, IG Metall)
