MEDPOL: SGI Europe highlights the role of essential infrastructure and AI in strengthening Europe’s economic resilience

On 9 March 2026, SGI Europe participated in the Macroeconomic Dialogue at Political Level (MEDPOL) with the European Commission (represented by Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity), the European Central Bank (represented by Luis de Guindos, Vice-President), the Eurogroup (Kyriákos Pierrakákis, President), the Cyprus Presidency of the Council (represented by Mákis Keravnós, Minister of Finance) and European social partners. The discussion focused on the current economic outlook and on the implications of AI for the future of the European labour market.

In a context of increasing geopolitical uncertainty and moderate economic growth, SGI Europe highlighted the importance of strengthening Europe’s economic resilience through investment in essential infrastructure and services of general interest. The intervention also emphasised the growing role of artificial intelligence in improving productivity and reliability across services of general interest.

While AI offers important opportunities to support workers and optimise operations in essential sectors, SGI Europe underlined that its deployment must be accompanied by strong cybersecurity, strategic technological autonomy, environmental sustainability and territorial cohesion.

Valeria Ronzitti, General Secretary of SGI Europe, commented:

“The European economy enters 2026 in a fragile and increasingly uncertain environment. Growth remains moderate. Inflation has eased, but the geopolitical context is again becoming a major macroeconomic variable. Investment levels remain below what is needed to modernise infrastructure, reinforce strategic autonomy, resilience and deliver on the twin transition.”

“For services of general interest, AI is already used in predictive maintenance of energy grids, in optimisation of rail traffic, in early detection systems in healthcare, and in leak detection in water networks. These are safety-critical and economically foundational sectors.”

“As Enrico Letta has argued in his report, the Single Market must guarantee the freedom to stay, namely the possibility for citizens and businesses to thrive in their own region. That depends on access to modern infrastructure and efficient essential services.”

SGI Europe stressed that the deployment of AI should contribute simultaneously to resilience, strategic autonomy, environmental responsibility and territorial cohesion, ensuring that productivity gains benefit the entire European economy.