European Forum for Family Businesses

The first European Forum for Family Businesses took place in Brussels, bringing together distinguished family business owners from across Europe with EU policymakers to discuss critical challenges facing European competitiveness.

Günther H. Oettinger, Former European Commissioner and Member of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for Family Businesses and Politics at his speech.

Family Entrepreneur Philippe Oddo, General Partner of ODDO BHF SCA and Chairman of the Management Board of ODDO BHF SE, France, giving an interview.

Dr Ulrich Stoll, Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Festo SE & Co. KG, Germany; Member of the Executive Board of the Foundation for Family Businesses and Politics, H.E. Dr Magnus Brunner, LL.M., European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration and Dr David Deißner, Managing Director of the Foundation for Family Businesses and Politics, from left to right.

Dr David Deißner, Managing Director of the Foundation for Family Businesses and Politics, Family Entrepreneur Philippe Oddo, General Partner of ODDO BHF SCA and Chairman of the Management Board of ODDO BHF SE, France, Kerstin Jorna, Director-General, Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, European Commission, Moritz Hundhausen, Head of EU Policy, Foundation for Family Businesses and Politics and Dr Ulrich Stoll, Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Festo SE & Co. KG, Germany; Member of the Executive Board of the Foundation for Family Businesses and Politics from left to right.

Dr David Deißner, Managing Director of the Foundation for Family Businesses and Politics and Dr. Andreas Schwab, Member of European Parliament, Group of European People's Party, Member Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, from left to right.

Sylvie Bernard-Grandjean, Vice President of METI and CEO of REDEX Group, France during the Transatlantic Panel.

This new platform addresses urgent issues including bureaucratic red tape, skills shortages, and the need for regulatory simplification.

During the Forum, the Foundation for Family Businesses released its comprehensive study “A Call for Smarter Integration in the European Union“, surveying 2,400 companies across Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. The research revealed a stark reality facing European businesses: “Almost 80% report that the EU puts a heavier bureaucratic burden on them than 10 years ago“ noted Dr David Deißner, Managing Director of the Foundation for Family Businesses and Politics. Despite this regulatory frustration, 66 % of business leaders remain cautiously optimistic about their companies' prospects over the next five years, with 60 % still viewing their home markets as good places to invest.

“The goal must be a Europe that is more competitive, stronger economically, and greener. A Europe that gives its family businesses the freedom to achieve exactly that“, emphasized Dr Ulrich Stoll, Deputy Chairman of Festo's Supervisory Board and Foundation board member.

The urgency of action was underscored by Prof Rainer Kirchdörfer, Foundation board member, who warned: “Europe will remain the losing continent if we don't do something about it together, and very quickly.“ The Forum highlighted Europe's declining global economic position. Key discussions centered on completing the Capital Markets Union, strengthening trade relationships, and developing effective migration policies for skilled workers. The Foundation established the European Forum for Family Businesses as an annual event, strengthening the voice of family enterprises in European policymaking and driving concrete political reforms for enhanced competitiveness. The study “A Call for Smarter Integration“ of the Foundation for Family Businesses can be found here: https://www.familienunternehmen.de/en/news/a-call-for-smarter-integration-in-the-european-union

Contact

Moritz Hundhausen

Head of EU Policy

Brussels House of Family Businesses

Rue Marie de Bourgogne 58,
BE-1000 Bruxelles

Phone: +32 (0) 2 / 88 21 47 1
Fax: +32 (0) 2 / 88 21 47 9

E-Mail: hundhausen(at)familienunternehmen-politik.de

Carolin Lurz

EU Policy Advisor

Brussels House of Family Businesses

Rue Marie de Bourgogne 58,
BE-1000 Brüssel

Phone: +32 (0) 2 / 88 21 47 2
Fax: +32 (0) 2 / 88 21 47 9

E-Mail: lurz(at)familienunternehmen-politik.de