Taking place at Egmont Palace, Brussels, on 17 and 18 November 2026, the 26th edition of the European Business Summit will focus on the theme “Europe’s Time to Invest in Resilience”. At a moment when Europe is entering a new strategic and economic cycle, this edition will examine how the Union can turn strategic independence into a practical investment agenda — one that strengthens competitiveness, security and Europe’s capacity to act.

The case for resilience is already visible in Europe’s energy transition. Since the 2022 energy crisis, Europe has accelerated the deployment of renewables, electrification and energy efficiency to reduce its exposure to imported fossil fuels and strengthen energy security. Renewables now account for almost half of EU electricity, showing how clean energy can help shield Europe from global energy shocks.

But this progress also shows why decarbonisation alone is not enough. Electrifying Europe’s economy and cutting fossil fuel dependence will only strengthen competitiveness if Europe can deliver the infrastructure behind it: grids, storage, interconnections, faster permitting, flexible markets and affordable power for industry. Energy security is therefore not separate from economic security — it is one of its foundations.

The same logic applies well beyond energy. Europe’s resilience will depend on its ability to strengthen the foundations of its security, prosperity and capacity to act. Strategic independence must extend across the full range of Europe’s economic and security priorities — from industrial capacity and critical supply chains to digital infrastructure, defence readiness and global partnerships. An independent Europe is not a closed Europe, but one that is strong enough to remain open on its own terms.

EBS 2026 will foster high-level debates on how Europe can reduce vulnerabilities, mobilise investment, simplify rules, scale innovation and build the capabilities needed for its next era. The Summit will ask how Europe can move from ambition to delivery — ensuring that resilience becomes not only a response to crisis, but the basis for long-term competitiveness and global influence.

The Summit is organised in partnership with the FPS Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation.