Ceemet, the European Tech & Industry Employers’ organisation representing 200,000 companies and over 19 million direct and 40 million indirect jobs, held its 47th General Assembly in Istanbul, hosted by its Turkish member MESS, one of the oldest employer organisations in the Ceemet community.
Opening the General Assembly, Ceemet President Hubert Mongon thanked MESS for their generous hospitality. “Every time we gather, I am reminded of what makes Ceemet so valuable: not just the work we do in Brussels, but the fact that we come together, from across Europe, as one community with a shared purpose,” Mongon told attendees.
He acknowledged the challenging environment facing European industry, noting that geopolitical tensions remain high, competition is fierce, and companies continue to face pressure on energy, supply chains, and access to skilled workers. While the right words are being heard in Brussels (simplification, competitiveness, cutting the burden on industry), Mongon stressed the need to ensure those words translate into the right actions.
During the General Assembly, members exchanged insights on the major social developments shaping their respective labour markets, with a focus on recent reforms in labour law and collective bargaining trends across Europe. This roundtable provided a valuable opportunity for Ceemet’s diverse membership to compare experiences and identify common challenges at a time of significant economic and geopolitical uncertainty. The session also included a briefing on the latest developments in the EU-UK relationship, particularly ahead of the forthcoming EU-UK Summit planned for spring 2026 in Brussels.
A central discussion at the General Assembly addressed the proposed Industrial Accelerator, which aims to support the European industry. Discussions showed that beyond this initiative, the European Union should continue their efforts to put in place the necessary conditions for companies to thrive, such as access to finance, adapted regulatory frameworks or a skilled workforce, for example.