Reimagining Europe: Can social justice and competitiveness thrive simultaneously?

?? My first month in advocacy—26 meetings, 11 high-level policy engagements, 5 workshops. A month focused on Roma children's rights, education, and anti-racism, bridging grassroots voices with European decision-makers.

January has been a whirlwind of policy meetings, advocacy efforts, and strategic discussions—all focused on advancing children’s rights, education, and social inclusion across Europe. Looking back, a few numbers stand out:

?? 26 meetings & events across policy and advocacy

??? 11 high-level engagements with MEPs, NGOs, and institutional partners

?? 5 workshops & forums on far-right challenges, anti-racism, and leadership

?? 3 major deliverables, including a report on Roma children and a policy response

While these numbers tell a story of action, what truly matters is impact—how these conversations shape policies and opportunities for those who need them most.

A surprising key takeaway from this month?

The need to align social impact with Europe's broader strategic direction.

Last Friday, the European Commission published their brand new EU Competitiveness Compass. This plan offers a critical framework, emphasizing 3 pillars: innovation, decarbonisation, and security as the foundation for a stronger Europe.

1?? Innovation: Closing the innovation gap

• Support start-ups and industrial leadership in deep tech
• Launch ‘AI Gigafactories’ and ‘Apply AI’ initiatives
• Introduce an EU Start-up & Scale-up Strategy to remove regulatory barriers
• Propose a 28th legal regime to simplify rules across corporate, tax, and labor laws

2?? Decarbonisation: Aligning climate action with economic growth

• Address high energy prices through a Clean Industrial Deal
• Launch an Affordable Energy Action Plan to reduce costs
• Introduce an Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act for key industries
• Implement tailored action plans for energy-intensive sectors (e.g., steel, chemicals)

3?? Security & Reducing Dependencies: Strengthening supply chains

• Expand Clean Trade & Investment Partnerships for raw materials and clean energy
• Strengthen trade agreements (covering 76 countries)
• Revise Public Procurement rules to prioritize critical EU sectors

Next to the three pillars, there are five horizontal enablers for competitiveness:

?? Simplification: Reduce bureaucracy, aiming for a 25% cut in administrative burdens (35% for SMEs)

?? Single Market Strengthening: Remove barriers and modernize regulations

?? Financing Competitiveness: Establish a European Savings & Investments Union

?? Skills & Jobs: Launch a Union of Skills to align workforce training with market needs

?? Policy Coordination: Introduce a Competitiveness Coordination Tool and a Competitiveness Fund

Whilst, I agree this is important, I am wondering - how do we ensure that children’s rights, education, and inclusion are integral to this vision?

Innovation cannot flourish amid polarization and division. Collaboration and diversity are not just ethical imperatives - they are strategic advantages in innovation. Organizations that embrace cross-sector partnerships, interdisciplinary teamwork, and diverse perspectives are significantly more likely to drive breakthrough innovations. The growing antagonism between social interests and for-profits is deeply concerning. Social justice and competitiveness must be interconnected, not competing priorities.

What I know now is that policy doesn’t exist in a vacuum - the current context of our time has a decisive role to play when it comes to policymaking. And policymaking affects all of our lives.

Looking forward to continuing this work in the months ahead.

How do you see social impact fitting into Europe’s economic future? Let’s discuss. ??

#Advocacy #EUCompetitiveness #ChildRights #Policy #Leadership