Berlin, 3 November 2026
On the day of the US elections, while President Zelensky was meeting Chancellor Merz in Berlin, the member of United Europe came together for thei 26th General Assembly at the Haus der Wirtschaft. Rarely has the question of how strong and how united Europe really is felt as tangible as it did that afternoon.
Our warm thanks go to Steffen Kampeter, Director General of the Confederation of German Employers’ Association (BDA), for his hospitality.
“Europe has to be strong – and right now we are not”
President Günther H. Oettinger opened the Assembly with a sober assessment. Europe faces a crowded electoral calendar: elections in Spain, France, Italy and Poland, a dispute over Poland’s highest court, no government in Romania, elections in Bulgaria and a weak government in Germany. On top of that, governance at EU level is weak.
“Whatever the outcome of the US elections, Europe has to be strong,” said Oettinger. Yet after six to seven years of inflation, industrial competitiveness is declining. Germany’s traditional strengths in particular – innovation, industry, engineering and automotive – are under pressure.
Turning to Ukraine, he noted that the war is increasingly shifting from the front line to cities and energy infrastructure. In winter, energy and heating are critical. Ukraine needs Europe’s full support.
His conclusion: “A united Europe is our brand and our name. But are we united? I am not sure.” There is still a great deal to do – and as citizens, we all have a responsibility to stand up for it.
“A majority is not a debating club”
Our host, Steffen Kampeter, sent a clear message to the German government. Germany is stronger than it currently performs, he said, but it is held back by bureaucracy, high energy costs and a rigid
labour market. Every month, around 15,000 highly paid industrial jobs are lost to other countries.
Hi appeal to Chancellor Merz: “You have a majority – and with a majority you can govern.” That majority must be used to create better conditions for the labour market and for business.
At European level, Kampeter sees liberal democracy under pressure. Centrists parties are losing ground while the political fringes are gaining – and with them, policies that rely on the state rather than the market. Europe, by contrast, needs free markets, less regulation, both at European and at national level. Only then will the single market remain a level playing field.
Dr Jürgen Großmann becomes our first Honorary Board Member
A special moment of the Assembly was the honouring of Dr Jürgen Großmann. Together with former Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel, he founded United Europe in September 2013. Since then, he has served as treasurer, and many of our member companies joined us through his commitment. Günther H. Oettinger paid tribute to him as “the father and grandfather of United Europe”.
After 13 years, Jürgen Großmann is handing over the role of treasurer. The General Assembly unanimously amended the statutes to create the position of Honorary Board Member – with him as its first holder. He will also remain a member of the Board.
Jürgen Großmann thanked the Assembly for the honour and suggested that others should follow – such as Wolfgang Schüssel and Günther H. Oettinger.
Further decisions:
– Sound finances: “United Europe is poor,” Jürgen Großmann summed up – but the finances are in good order. The General Assembly unanimously approved 2025 financial statements and discharged the Board and the Management.
– New contribution structure: For the first time since 2023, membership fees will be moderately adjusted. Students will continue to pay the same fee. New is a “Membership Plus” pilot for companies that wish to be particularly engaged. The resolution was adopted unanimously.
– New Board: Prof Dr Kai Andrejewski, a tax lawyer and partner at Agora Strategy, takes over as treasurer. Joining the Board is Klaus Welle, former Secretary General of the European Parliament and now Academic Chair at the Martens Centre and Dr Jürgen Großmann, former treasurer at United Europe.
– Thanks and farewell: Dr Walter Schlebusch, after 13 years, and Ab van der Touw have stepped down from the Board. United Europe warmly thanked them both for their commitment.
– Enlarging the board: The General Assembly decided to enlarge the Board in June 2027.
A year shaped by security and competitiveness
The annual report by Dyria Sigrid Alloussi, Managing Director at United Europe, made clear how strongly two themes shaped 2026: security and competitiveness. Across generations, borders and
sectors, United Europe brought people together:
- January: virtual debrief with Günther H. Oettinger on Europe’s defence capabilities and competitiveness
- February: official side event at the Munich Security Conference with the Sovereign Europe Forum and the European Forum Alpbach, featuring Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, as well as a panel on algorithmic propaganda with the Munich Cyber Security Conference
- March: Europa Forum Lech on strategies for energy, security and the economy
- May: virtual members’ briefing on Europe’s role in global energy markets
- June: Members’ Talk and Political Stammtisch at the Drivers and Business Club in Munich
- September: Europe Lab for our Young Leaders at the House of the European Union with security expert Nico Lange and 50Hertz CEO Stefan Kapferer; followed by the FAZ European Conference at the Allianz Forum, opened by Günther H. Oettinger, with Antti Herlin (KONE), Klaus Welle and Stefan Kapferer on stage; Political Stammtisch at the Representation of the State of Baden-Württemberg in Brussels
- October: CEO Dialogue in Paris with around 25 CEOs
Our goal for the years ahead is to connect the two pillars of our work even more closely: dialogue formats for decision-makers and our Young Leaders formats. “Our Young Leaders should benefit from the network and experience of our members, and our members from the perspectives of the next generation.” concluded Dyria Sigrid Alloussi.
Outlook:
In 2027, United Europe will remain a place for open European dialogue – from the Munich Security Conference and the Europa Forum Lech to our next General Assembly in Berlin in June 2027.
We thank our members, partners and Young Leaders for a strong year. Anyone who wants to stand up for a united and competitive Europe is warmly welcome to join us!