Competitiveness, Economic Security and Market Access Must Advance Together

Speaking during the discussion on Europe’s geo-economic agenda, LPK President Vidmantas Janulevičius emphasized that Europe must pursue three objectives simultaneously: strengthening competitiveness, enhancing economic security and expanding market access.

According to V. Janulevičius, stronger competitiveness requires creating favourable conditions for investment, innovation and industrial growth across all EU regions. At the same time, Europe must reinforce its economic security by addressing unfair competition, strengthening supply chains and increasing resilience to economic coercion. Expanding market access through strategic partnerships and new opportunities for European exporters should remain an equally important priority.

Drawing on Lithuania’s experience, LPK highlighted the importance of resilience, diversification and European solidarity. As a small and open economy, Lithuania strongly supports a rules-based international trading system while welcoming efforts to strengthen the EU’s economic security toolbox.

LPK also stressed that Europe’s defence industrial expansion should become a driver of competitiveness, innovation and industrial development across the European Union. Lithuanian companies operating in advanced manufacturing, engineering, electronics and laser technologies are well positioned to contribute to European and NATO value chains.

A key takeaway from the discussion was that competitiveness, openness and resilience should not be viewed as competing objectives. Europe’s future success will depend on its ability to advance all three simultaneously.

Europe’s long-term competitiveness will rely on remaining open to trusted partners while becoming stronger, more resilient and more innovative at home.