The EU Competitiveness Compass - Navigating growth and innovation in a changing market

Nowadays, it's almost impossible to open a newspaper without encountering an article on 'sustainability'. Whether it's in the context of the financial services industry, the broader economy, or society as a whole, sustainability has become a critical issue. In recent years, it has gained significant traction and is now recognised as a necessity rather than just a trend.

Over the past decade, the focus on environmental issues has grown exponentially, resulting in various global commitments and initiatives aimed at transforming current institutional, economic, and financial models.

The EU Competitiveness Compass, launched in 2024, sets the strategic direction for enhancing Europe's global economic strength, resilience, and sustainability. It outlines priorities for innovation, decarbonisation, supply chain security, and regulatory efficiency, ensuring that businesses operating in the EU remain competitive in the evolving geopolitical and economic landscape.

With increasing regulatory complexity, businesses must proactively align with emerging frameworks, including the Green Deal, Circular Economy Action Plan, Net-Zero Industry Act, AI Act, and Digital Product Passports. This training will equip companies with the knowledge to navigate these evolving policies, seize opportunities, and mitigate risks.

By the end of this training, participants will:

• understand the core objectives of the EU Competitiveness Compass and its four strategic pillars:
  • Innovation and technology leadership
  • Green and digital transitions
  • Open and resilient markets
  • Skills and workforce adaptation
• identify how regulatory changes and sustainability policies impact different industries;
• explore opportunities for innovation, decarbonisation, and digital transformation;
• gain insights into EU funding mechanisms, incentives, and support for businesses;
• learn how to future-proof business strategies in response to evolving EU competitiveness policies.

• Introduction to the EU Competitiveness Compass
  • What is the EU Competitiveness Compass, and why does it matter?
  • The four strategic pillars shaping the future of EU industries:
    • Innovation & technology leadership
    • Green & digital transitions
    • Open & resilient markets
    • Skills & workforce adaptation
  • How it fits with broader EU strategies (Green Deal, Fit for 55, Digital Agenda)
• Key regulatory & policy developments affecting competitiveness
  • Green transition & industrial strategy
  • Technology & digital innovation
  • Supply chain security & open markets
  • Workforce & skills adaptation
• Impact on businesses & industry implications
  • How regulatory changes affect different industries (manufacturing, energy, finance, tech, supply chains)
  • Challenges & compliance risks businesses must prepare for
  • Financial risks & investment implications
• Opportunities for growth & innovation
  • Leveraging EU funding & incentives (Horizon Europe, Innovation Fund, InvestEU)
  • Business case for sustainability & circular economy
  • Strategies for digital transformation & AI adoption
• Next Steps for Businesses
  • Assessing regulatory exposure & future-proofing strategies
  • Developing a competitive resilience plan
  • Engaging with EU funding programs & innovation networks

This training is coordinated by Michael Horvath, Daniela Cedola and Julien Jacqué, Partners at PwC Luxembourg.

Michael Horvath is a partner at PwC with extensive expertise in sustainable finance and the asset management industry, including both financial and real assets. Since joining PwC Switzerland in 2011 and PwC Luxembourg in 2018, he has led significant projects in regulatory audit and advisory, focusing on the asset management sector. Michael has played a key role in implementing the EU regulatory framework for sustainable finance, including SFDR, taxonomy regulation, and CSRD, as well as other regulatory initiatives such as DORA, AML/CFT, CSSF circular 18/698, and MICA. He is a certified public accountant in Switzerland and Liechtenstein and has contributed to designing compliance frameworks and operational implementations driven by regulatory changes. His notable client projects include defining target operating models for Luxembourg AIFMs, digital operational resilience planning, AML/CFT framework implementation, and ESG/sustainability process design, supported by his involvement in training and regulatory advisory.

Daniela Cedola is a partner at PwC Consulting Public Sector with over 20 years of experience in project management, leading teams of more than 30 people, and overseeing project delivery, quality, risk control, client orientation, and conflict resolution. She specialises in business acceleration, focusing on SME support, investment readiness, innovation ecosystems, international trade, growth strategy, and entrepreneurship policies. Daniela has worked across various sectors including Public Sector, Education, Energy, and Technology. Notably, she managed major projects such as the BlueInvest platform and the Low Carbon Business Action in Mexico, and directed the EU Gateway programme covering 28 EU Member states and multiple Asian countries. Prior to PwC, she was a Strategy Consultant at Accenture in London, focusing on the Energy industry.

Julien Jacqué is a partner in PwC Luxembourg’s technology consulting department, co-leading the ESG Non-financial sector service offering and ESG Data & Technology services across sectors. With over 12 years of experience, he supports operational and financial clients in launching Sustainability and ESG transformation programs, guiding them from ESG strategy definition to business model transformation and regulatory reporting. Specialising in transport, logistics, manufacturing, and financial services, Julien leads large-scale transformation projects and international teams, including ESG reporting upgrades for telecom clients. His expertise includes ESG strategy, Net Zero, business intelligence platforms, and end-to-end project leadership for major clients in Europe and beyond.