Comparing the European Union to his large multinational company,
Patrick Cescau, CEO of Unilever, presented his “recipe for success in a globalised world” to a
Friends of Europe Policymakers' Lunch Debate on 26 June. “The challenge is two-fold. It’s one of perception and communication and one of speed and determination,” he said, underlining the importance of “winning over the hearts and minds of citizens” by putting sustainability at the centre of the EU agenda and improving communication.
For
Maria Joao Rodrigues, Special Advisor to the Commission on the Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs, the question of governance is crucial in achieving the EU’s global competitiveness goals. “That is why we need the Lisbon Treaty,” she stressed, referring to the institutional reform treaty recently rejected by Irish voters, without which, she believes the bloc will not be strong enough to push through the necessary reforms to face up to the pressures of globalisation.
Featuring
Patrick Cescau, CEO of Unilever
Maria Joao Rodrigues, Special Advisor to the European Commission on the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs
Moderated by
Giles Merritt, Secretary General of
Friends of Europe