SOTEU: SGI Europe calls for balancing competitiveness, cohesion and resilience

On 10 September 2025, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered her State of the Union Address, assessing recent developments for the EU and setting out the Commission’s priorities for the year ahead.

Reacting to the address, Valeria Ronzitti, SGI Europe General Secretary, highlighted:

"We welcome President von der Leyen’s ambition to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness through the Single Market Roadmap and the Industrial Accelerator Act. SGI Europe has long emphasised the need for supporting innovation while maintaining simplicity and predictability for enterprises, including those providing services of general interest. This is essential for growth, but also to guarantee citizens’ freedom to stay in their territories, thanks to accessible and high-quality SGIs. To deliver on this ambition, we reiterate our call for a dedicated Action Plan on Quality SGIs."

"We note in particular the focus put on social fairness, with the announcement of a Housing Plan, a Quality Jobs Act, and an Anti-Poverty Strategy. These initiatives echo SGI Europe’s commitment to ensuring that citizens’ trust is built on affordable, accessible, and high-quality SGIs. Social fairness is also a catalyst for the EU competitiveness, enabling labour market participation, fostering productivity and innovation, and ensuring that the inclusive and sustainable green and digital transitions."

"With increasing pressure on public finances, the EU must make a strategic use of available resources. Rather than separating priorities, the EU should promote investments serving multiple purposes. Dual-use infrastructure – in transport, energy and digital systems – can strengthen both civilian resilience and security, reflecting the interconnected nature of today’s challenges and encouraging cooperation between public, private and civic actors. Ensuring adequate and dedicated resources for SGIs is therefore indispensable to turn the ambition of competitiveness and fairness into tangible outcomes for people and territories across the Union."

(Photo: © European Union 2025 - Source : EP)