Coming Together – Redefining Europe’s Competitiveness with People at the Center

The Euroconsumers International Forum is back, and bigger than ever!  After last year’s standout edition in Brussels, we’re returning to the beautiful Solvay library on November 26 & 27 for the 7th annual gathering of consumer voices, market leaders, policymakers, and visionaries. Coming Together to build a Competitive Europe.

This year’s theme, Coming Together, is a call to unite innovation, governance, and people. In the midst of an ever-changing geopolitical and economical scene, Europe today is seeking not only to adapt but to lead, and to do so with consumers at the center. Over two days, we’ll explore two intertwined forces shaping Europe’s competitive future: the drive for creative innovation and the need for strong, collaborative governance.

In true EC Forum fashion, we’re mixing ideas with inspiration, and this time, we’re taking a cultural cue from one of the most iconic bands in history: The Beatles. Much like the Beatles redefined cultural and creative boundaries, this forum seeks to redefine the boundaries of innovation and governance by blending inspiration, policy, and real-world action. Their message of imagination, unity, and reinvention sets the tone. Whether it’s the optimism of We Can Work It Out, the idealism of Imagine, or the collective spirit of Come Together, their legacy reminds us what’s possible when people join forces with purpose.

Expect a dynamic lineup of speakers, from global thought leaders to changemakers on the ground. We’ll dive into pressing topics like young consumers in the online world, unlocking the competitive potential of novel foods and fighting scams, and the way forward for a competitive Europe. And of course, we’ll once again celebrate innovation and impact with the much-anticipated Euroconsumers awards.

Let’s come together to listen, challenge, collaborate, and take action! 

A high-energy kick-off to the EC Forum, the Innovation Jam brings together bold thinkers, pioneering start-ups, and strategic partners for a full day of discussion and collaboration.

This fast-paced, interactive session is all about consumer-centered innovation powered by technology and how the key role start-ups can play in shaping it. Together, Euroconsumers and start-ups will explore how they can reinforce each other to build smarter, fairer, and more trusted digital solutions.

Expect fresh perspectives, rapid ideation and a dynamic atmosphere that breaks down silos and sparks real innovation. Highlights include inspiring keynotes from industry leaders at Amazon and Google, and a special partnership moment with Flanders Technology and Innovation and the Start-up Pitch Challenge, where ten selected innovators will compete for the award for the best idea. You can sign up for the awards here. 

Note: This is a closed-door session, everyone interested in joining can register below.

In a world reshaped daily by geopolitical shifts, economic uncertainty, and global power rebalancing, Europe must adapt, reposition, and reinforce its resilience. How do we build a stronger, more self-sufficient and competitive Union—one that puts people at the center? By Coming Together and join forces.

This high-level public forum brings together EU and national policymakers, business leaders, academics, civil society, and consumer advocates to tackle this critical question.

Together, we’ll explore how consumer protection and empowerment can be powerful drivers for a fair, resilient, and globally competitive Europe.

Expect forward-looking dialogue, shared solutions, and strategic insights to shape the future of the Internal Market—and Europe’s place in the world.

Discover our Panels

1. The Billion-Euro Drain: Turning Fraud Loss into a Competitive Advantage
   Every year, European consumers see billions of euros vanish into fraud and scams. Pile on the financial and reputational fallout businesses face, and the figure spirals into the stratosphere. Right now, that money fuels criminal networks. But imagine if those billions were instead channeled back into Europe’s economy — powering innovation, inclusion, and resilience.This session flips the script: fraud prevention and enforcement are not just about protection, they’re about competitiveness. They’re inseparable from Europe’s green, digital, and industrial transitions. Through an unfiltered debate, the panel will expose the true scale of the problem, the political trade-offs at stake, and the cracks in Europe’s fragmented institutional response.

2. Growing Up Online: Europe’s Race to a Minor-Proof Digital Future
   When it comes to online safety for minors, the debate is loud — but young people’s own voices are too often drowned out. This panel changes that. Building on Euroconsumers’ fresh survey data and national roundtables, it gives kids and teens the mic to reveal how they really navigate the digital world, what risks they face, and what they think of the policies adults are drafting for them.

   Expect raw perspectives that cut through the noise. What works, what fails, and what’s urgently missing? This debate will spotlight the chance for Europe to set the global benchmark for a digital ecosystem that is not only safe, but empowering for its youngest citizens. Get ready for a fiery exchange.

3. Coming Together for a Competitive Europe
   Europe is at a crossroads. Geopolitical shocks, AI disruption, sustainability pressures, and volatile trade dynamics are colliding to test its competitiveness like never before. Two top-tier panels will tackle the burning question: how can Europe stay united, ambitious, and battle-ready in the global race?

   • Part 1: United for Europe’s Single Market
     Inspired by Letta’s provocative report, this session will strip down Europe’s Single Market — exposing barriers that stifle business and consumer potential. Expect sharp takes on mergers, competition policy, industrial revival, and the infamous “28th regime.” The stakes? Whether Europe can unleash the innovation it needs at home before it’s outpaced abroad.

   • Part 2: Finding Europe’s Spot in the New World
     Europe’s global clout is slipping. Successive geo-political and geo-economic aftershocks have left the EU scrambling to catch up. This closing session looks outward: trade deals, digital vs. green trade-offs, and Europe’s role as a political union in an unstable world. It’s the big-picture battle for Europe’s relevance. The Forum ends not with a whisper, but with fireworks.

Awarding Excellence, Powered by Product Testing Expertise and Consumers Experience

Now in its seventh edition, the Euroconsumers Awards (formerly known as the BeXt Awards) continue to celebrate brands that distinguish themselves through product quality, reliability and consumer satisfaction. The awards draw on Euroconsumers’ decades of expertise in rigorous laboratory testing and real-world consumer experience and satisfaction.

The 2025 edition focuses on awarding the best brands in key sectors: hi-tech, large household appliances, and small household appliances. Winners were selected based on a combination of lab-tested performance across more than 2000 products, and data on reliability and satisfaction collected directly from consumers in different European countries (Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain).

Awarded to brands that lead the way in both expert testing and real-world consumer experience, these recognitions reflect what truly matters to consumers.

Location

Solvay Library in Brussels – Rue Belliard 137 1040 Brussels
The Solvay Library is located in the Parc Léopold, in the heart of Brussels and next to the European Parliament.

How to get there 

By train

The nearest station is ‘Bruxelles Luxembourg’: exit the station and head towards rue Wiertz. Head towards the European Parliament building and pass underneath it (not towards the Place du Luxembourg!). Go down the stairs and turn left. Parc Léopold is on your right. Enter the park and follow the signs to the ‘Bibliothèque Solvay’.

From the ‘Gare du Midi’: by metro: take metro line 6 towards ‘Simonis Elisabeth’ or metro line 2 towards ‘Simonis – Léopold II’. Change at ‘Arts-loi’ and take metro line 1 towards ‘Stockel’ or metro line 5 towards ‘Hermann-Debroux’. Get off at the ‘Maelbeek’ stop and take the ‘Chaussée d’Etterbeek’ exit. Turn right and walk along the Chaussée d’Etterbeek for about 10 minutes. Cross the rue Belliard and follow the signs to the ‘Bibliothèque Solvay’.

By car

The Solvay Library is located in the Parc Léopold, between Place Jourdan, the European Parliament, Rue Belliard and the Museum of Natural Sciences. Traffic and parking are not permitted in the Parc Léopold. Please use the car parks below:

– In the nearby streets (paying) (Chaussée d’Etterbeek, Av.du Maelbeek, Rue Froissart,…)

– Place Jourdan (paying). From here, join the Avenue du Maelbeek. Cross the avenue and enter the Parc Léopold. Then follow the signs for the Bibliothèque Solvay.

– Forte dei Marmi’ car park (paying car park), Avenue du Maelbeek 61. Walk down Avenue du Maelbeek. Parc Léopold is on your left. Enter the park and follow the signs to the Bibliothèque Solvay. The car park is open: Sunday to Thursday: from 07:00 to 22:00 and Friday and Saturday: from 07:00 to 24:00. With a ticket, you can enter and leave the car park 24 hours a day.

– The ‘Interparking Wet/Loi’ car park, Rue de la Loi 19. Under construction. Alternative pedestrian exit: Rue d’Arlon, but +- 12min walk from the Solvay Library.

By metro

The nearest metro station is ‘Maelbeek’ (metro lines 5 and 1). Take the ‘Chaussée d’Etterbeek’ exit. Turn right and walk for 10 minutes along the Chaussée d’Etterbeek. Cross Rue Belliard and enter Park Léopold. Follow the signs to the ‘Bibliothèque Solvay’.

From Brussels International Airport

– By taxi: Allow 20 to 30 minutes for the journey.

– By bus: line 12 or 21 – ‘Schuman’ stop or ‘Luxembourg’ stop (www.stib.be)

– By train: up to 4 trains per hour to Brussels (20 to 30 minutes). Get off at the ‘Gare centrale’ stop. Take metro line 5 towards Hermann-Debroux or metro line 1 towards Stockel. Get off at the ‘Maelbeek’ stop and take the ‘Chaussée d’Etterbeek’ exit (5 minutes from the metro). At the exit, turn right and walk for 5 minutes along the Chaussée d’Etterbeek. Cross the rue Belliard and follow the signs to the Bibliothèque Solvay. The building is located at the top of the Parc Léopold, on your left.