We invite you to an open science–policy dialogue hosted by MERGE, where we will continue the discussion on how to measure, assess and track competitiveness in a way which better encompasses long-term thinking, sustainability and societal cohesion.
When: Wednesday 25th February, 2026, 14:00-15:15 CET
Where: Online, open for all
Register from this link
Competitiveness is currently one of the most prominent concepts within European economic policy debates. Following Mario Draghi’s report on European competitiveness as well as the priorities of the European Commission for 2024-2029 outlined in the Political Guidelines, the term has gained renewed political relevance. This agenda has been widely endorsed by business representatives, emphasising the importance of competitiveness for securing innovation and industrial capacities. Yet, there is no shared understanding of what the concept actually means or encompasses across science, policy, civil society, and industry.
In May 2025, the MERGE project organised the workshop “Measuring what matters: Competitiveness” to discuss with participants from EU institutions and experts how competitiveness can be defined and measured, focusing on the Circular Economy Act and the Quality Jobs Roadmap. The key takeaway: if competitiveness is to serve as a compass for Europe’s long-term future, it must align with broader societal goals such as environmental sustainability, social inclusion, human wellbeing, societal prosperity and economic resilience. This perspective emphasises that competitiveness is neither an end in itself nor simply about short-term economic performance
By bringing together researchers, policymakers, business leaders, and civil society, this science-policy dialogue aims to provide an interactive forum to discuss future-fit visions of competitiveness and reflect on how metrics and indicators can support and foster them. The event is unique in that it brings together scientific evidence and policy practice to explore how the EU’s vision of competitiveness can better reflect long-term economic, social, and environmental objectives. By linking conceptual debates to the realities of EU policymaking and governance, this science-policy dialogue seeks to identify practical ways to integrate sustainable and inclusive wellbeing considerations into the current EU competitiveness agenda, ensuring that the EU’s competitiveness policies are both evidence-based and future-fit.
Agenda
| Welcome to the science-policy dialogue and introduction to the MERGE project by Magalí Brosio (ZOE Institute for Future-Fit Economies) | |
| Overview of MERGE policy work and key insights from the competitiveness deep dive by Laura Danilaviciute (ZOE Institute for Future-Fit Economies) | |
| Commentary by Lars Mortensen focused on circularity | |
| ‘’Is Europe a Laggard? Comparing the EU and the US using an Interdisciplinary Well-Being Framework’ – Presentation by Annegeke Jansen (University of Leiden) | |
| ‘Beyond averages – Inequality-sensitive welfare comparisons across the Atlantic’ – Presentation by Shaun Da Costa (Joint Research Centre, European Commission) | |
| Commentary by Sandrine Dixon- Declève – reflections on current status and future directions | |
| Participants Q&A, Closing words |
