NEDs’ Perspective on the New EU Measures: Industrial Policy & Reporting

On March 20, 2025, I participated in a discussion hosted by Chapter Zero France on the evolving EU policy landscape. Chapter Zero France is the french chapter of the Climate Governance Initiative, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum. This webinar provided NEDs with key insights into the Clean Industrial Deal and the Omnibus Package—two major regulatory initiatives shaping the future of sustainability, competitiveness, and corporate governance.

My Key Takeaway: Innovation is Europe’s Strategic Bet—and Boards Must Lead

I emphasized that while funding, policy, and ambition are necessary, innovation is what can truly bridge the gap between sustainability goals and competitiveness. The Clean Industrial Deal is a step in the right direction, but it must empower ecosystems, build capabilities, and enable commercialization of the 35% of technologies still needed to reach our climate targets. This demands a transformation in how boards engage with innovation—not as a compliance issue, but as a strategic imperative.

Boards can no longer rely on traditional governance models. We must ask:

•What role can each organization play in Europe’s clean tech transformation?

•Are we proactively enabling innovation, or waiting to react to disruption?

•How do we ensure collaboration across sectors and borders?

From Compliance to Conviction

What stood out during the discussion was a shared sentiment: companies, particularly large and forward-looking ones, will continue ESG reporting and sustainability strategies regardless of regulatory rollback. Why? Because the business case is clear, and because markets, consumers, and investors are demanding more transparency, not less. As one speaker put it, “Decarbonization is good business.”

Boards of the Future: More Attentive, More Proactive

The message I left with is that boards must be bold and imaginative. Whether it’s through scenario planning, innovation partnerships, or reshaping our KPIs, the shift toward sustainability-driven innovation requires both mindset and method change.

Let’s keep this European dialogue alive—across our communities, our boardrooms, and our sectors.

Feel free to reach out if you want to explore how boards can better lead through innovation and sustainability.