The 13th Annual Energy Conference, held on 27 March 2025 at the Esade campus in Madrid, brought together senior European policymakers, business leaders, and experts to discuss the intersection of energy, security, and competitiveness under the theme “A Clean Industrial Deal. Energy, Trade and Industry”. The event was jointly organised by EsadeGeo, the Representation of the European Commission in Spain, and InnoEnergy, and featured a keynote address by Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice President of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition.

In her intervention, Ribera stressed that security can no longer be understood solely through a military lens, arguing instead for a broader perspective that fully integrates the energy dimension. She pointed to the weaponisation of critical raw materials, the vulnerability of submarine cables, and the growing impact of climate change as central elements of today’s security debate. Referring to Russia’s war against Ukraine, Ribera underlined that assumptions about peace and stability in Europe have been profoundly shaken, making it imperative to rethink security in a more comprehensive and structural manner.

Ribera also outlined the strategic direction of the European Commission in an increasingly volatile geopolitical environment. She emphasised that the European response must be rooted in deeper integration of the internal market, the overcoming of internal divisions, and the preservation of a multilateral, rules based international system, including the foundations of the World Trade Organization. Within this framework, she presented the Clean Industrial Deal as the flagship initiative of the Commission’s first 100 days, designed to align security, competitiveness, and European values while strengthening industry and ensuring that European savings are invested within Europe to support long term growth.

The conference was opened by Javier Solana, President of EsadeGeo’s Center for Global Economy and Geopolitics, alongside Elena Bou, Director of Innovation at InnoEnergy, and María Canal, Spokesperson and Head of Press of the Representation of the European Commission in Spain. Following the keynote, Ribera took part in a conversation moderated by EsadeGeo Director Ángel Saz, with contributions from Antoni Ballabriga of BBVA, Jose Noldin of GravitHy Green Steel, and Blanca Perea of Naturgy, focusing on how Europe can reconcile industrial growth with sustainability in the current global trade context. The event concluded by reaffirming the role of energy policy as a central pillar of Europe’s economic resilience, strategic autonomy, and long term competitiveness.