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Autumn Workshop
Boosting European competitiveness: finance, the circular economy, and transport

Name: Autumn Workshop <br />Boosting European competitiveness: finance, the circular economy, and transport
Start: 2026-10-13T00:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-13T23:59:59+02:00
Location: Parlamento Europeo – Edificio Paul-Henri Spaak

Bruxelles, 13 October 2026

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Boosting the EU’s competitiveness has been a priority since the start of the current European parliamentary term. The geopolitical upheavals of recent months have made it an even more pressing necessity. The autumn session of the Connact workshops aims to contribute to the discussion on current initiatives at the European level and on those to be undertaken in the fields of finance, the circular economy, and transport. By bringing together policymakers and stakeholders, we will examine in detail the measures under discussion at the European level and their implications for the Italian system.

Programme

Time	Connact Autumn Workshop
9:20 am	Institutional welcomes Marco Canaparo Deputy Permanent Representative of Italy to the EU
9:30 am	Thematic sessions 4. Energy 2. Circular Economy 3. Mobility & Logistics 1. Finance & Insurance

Time

Autumn Workshop - Energy 2026

9:30 am

Energy security on the path to European self-sufficiency

Environmental sustainability concerns provided the European Union with the initial impetus to embark on phasing out fossil fuels. Subsequently, the energy crises that followed the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran highlighted a further compelling reason to turn to alternative sources: the need to build European energy self-sufficiency to free the Union from dependence on foreign countries and from the repercussions of events over which it has no control.

It has also become clear that while progress on renewable energy sources is significant, it is not yet sufficient to guarantee the energy security required by the European economy and its citizens. Against this backdrop, the EU is recalibrating its short- and medium-term strategies to ensure secure and affordable supplies in the immediate term and to avoid setbacks in implementing its longer-term strategy, which aims for climate neutrality and strategic autonomy. Representatives from various institutions and stakeholders participating in the energy roundtable will discuss short-term solutions and the path towards the long-term goal.

Opening remarks

Philippe Lamberts

Commissione Ue, Principal Advisor to the President von der Leyen for the Transition of the economy to climate neutrality

Antonio Lopez Nicolas

EU Commission, Head of Unit DG ENER A.4 - Chief Economist

Michelangelo Nerini

Italy Permanent Representation to the EU, Coordination for Competitiveness and Growth, Energy

Debate

Stefano Bonaccini

MEP S&D/PD

Paolo Borchia

MEP PfE/Lega

Nicola Procaccini

MEP ECR/FdI

Q&A with Connact promoters

Fabio Parola

A2A, European and International Public Affairs Manager

Federico Musazzi

Assoclima

Luca Franza

Edison, Head of EU Institutional Affairs

Liron Spindel

ENEL, Head of Public Affairs

Lucia Odone

Eni, Head of European Government Affairs

Valeria Palmisano

SNAM, Senior Manager EU Institutional Relations

Roberto Panico

Terna, Head of EU External Relations

Moderator

Giulia Torbidoni

Editor in chief of Eunews

Time

Autumn Workshop - Circular Economy 2026

12:00 pm

Developing the circular economy: best practices and legislative initiatives

The discussion focuses on the experience of stakeholders in the circular economy sector and the solutions proposed by the European institutions to encourage the development of this production model. Italy has developed some interesting models in various sectors, such as water cycle management. Our country is also at the forefront of the materials recycling sector, but it suffers from the lack of a genuine European market for secondary raw materials. Through initiatives such as the Circular Economy Act and the Industrial Accelerator Act, the EU can provide a significant boost to both the dissemination of best practices developed in Italy and the creation of regulatory and market

Opening remarks

Stefano Soro

EU Commission, Head of Unit DG GROW F.3

Marica Cicconi

Italy Permanent Representation to the EU, Coordinator Environment and Climate, Infringment Procedures

Debate

Pietro Fiocchi

MEP ECR/FdI

Alessandra Moretti

MEP S&D/PD

Valentina Palmisano

MEP LEFT/M5S

Silvia Sardone

MEP, PfE/Lega

Salvatore Margiotta

Basilicata Region, Head of Circular Economy, Waste and Environmental Reclamations

Q&A with Connact promoters

Giacomo De Angelis

a2a, EU Institutional affairs

Federico Musazzi

Assoclima

Simona Fontana

CONAI, Director General

Fabio Marseo

Confartigianato Imprese, Presidente Categoria Riuso Prato e Vicepresidente Corertex

Emanuele Degortes

Menarini, Global Head of Access Policy, Patient Advocacy & Engagement

Matteo Magnaghi

Pirelli Group, Head of Sustainable Product Stewardship

Alessandro Sabbini

Versalis, Responsabile Relazioni Istituzionali

Moderator

Alessandra De Santis

Coordinator of EconomiaCircolare.com

Time

Autumn Workshop - Mobility & Logistics 2026

2:15 pm

The transport system: balancing sustainability and competitiveness

Transport plays a key role both in combating climate change and in ensuring the competitiveness of various sectors of the economy. The European Union is working across all areas of mobility to develop solutions that reconcile these two aspects: strategies for ports and the maritime industry; the aviation package; high-speed rail and the single ticketing system; and the revision of the AFIR Regulation on infrastructure for electric vehicle charging and alternative fuels along European roads and motorways and other measures to decarbonise road transport.

The Mobility & Logistics working group will focus on examining the impact of these initiatives on the Italian transport system and will bring together European policymakers and industry representatives.

Opening remarks

Gabriele Giudice

EU Commission, Member of the EVP Fitto's cabinet

Pierpaolo Settembri

EU Commission, Deputy Head of the Cabinet of Commissioner Tzitzikostas

Alberto La Bella

Italy Permanent Representation to the EU, Coordinator for TLC and Transport

Debate

Carlo Fidanza

MEP ECR/FdI

Matteo Ricci

MEP S&D/PD

Raffaele Latrofa

Special Commissioner of the Port System Authority of the Central-Northern Tyrrhenian Sea

Q&A with Connact promoters

Francesca Marcacci Balestrazzi

AISCAT, Area legale & Affari internazionali

Massimiliano Calamea

Autostrade per l'Italia, Head of EU & International Public Affairs

Maria Cristina Scarfia

Confetra, Head of EU Affairs

Andrea Minuto Rizzo

Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, Head of EU and International Institutional Affairs

Luca Sciacchitano

Leonardo SpA, Head of Industrial Affairs

Matteo Magnaghi

Pirelli Group, Head of Sustainable Product Stewardship

Moderator

Lorenzo Robustelli

Managing editor

Time

Autumn Workshop - Finance & Insurance 2026

4:30 pm

The competitiveness of the financial system and progress towards the Savings & Investment Union

The European Commission’s recent report on the competitiveness of the European banking system highlights the key challenges and opportunities for strengthening the sector. The document sets out a framework for developing an action plan through which the EU, by finalising the legislative packages currently under discussion and adopting new initiatives for the second half of the legislative term, will help ensure the sector’s resilience and enable operators to compete with other players globally.

In this context, progress towards establishing the Savings & Investment Union, the review of the banking package and pension fund legislation, and the role of the supervisory authorities (EBA, ESMA, EIOPA and, most recently, AMLA) are all pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that must be put together carefully and harmoniously, so as to make the European regulatory environment an ideal breeding ground for the development of the European financial sector.