Brussels gathering highlights women-led leadership as key to Europe’s green economy and energy independence

Brussels gathering highlights women-led leadership as key to Europe’s green economy and energy independence

(IN BRIEF) The Women Climate Leaders Network (WCLN) held its mid-year hybrid meeting in Brussels, gathering women leaders from all EU Member States, policymakers, and experts to accelerate Europe’s green transition. Discussions centered on funding for green SMEs and scale-ups, the importance of embracing disruption as opportunity, and strengthening the business case for decarbonisation. Members welcomed the EU’s 35% climate target in the next Multiannual Financial Framework while stressing the need for advisory support for newer Member States. The meeting also included exchanges with the European Investment Bank Group on its Climate Bank Roadmap 2026–2030. Following the meeting, members joined the Climate & Energy Summit hosted by Friends of Europe, contributing solutions on resilience, energy independence, and digital transformation. The event reinforced WCLN’s role as a strategic advisory body to the EIB Group and highlighted the transformative impact of women-led leadership in Europe’s green transition.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 3-Oct-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The Women Climate Leaders Network (WCLN) brought together women business leaders from all 27 EU Member States, alongside EU policymakers and expert guests, for its mid-year hybrid meeting in Brussels to accelerate Europe’s green transition and strengthen competitiveness.

The meeting focused on creating a supportive policy environment and improving access to funding for innovators, SMEs, and scale-ups driving climate solutions. Members highlighted that Europe cannot rely on fossil fuels to compete globally and must embrace disruption as an opportunity for innovation, decarbonisation, and stronger partnerships. With this in mind, WCLN reaffirmed its mission to advocate the business case for climate action while promoting female leadership across industries.

The gathering also served to review progress since the publication of WCLN’s March 2025 recommendation paper on EU financing tools and SME greening. Members welcomed the EU’s integrated climate and environment approach, including the 35% target in the next Multiannual Financial Framework and efforts to create a one-stop-shop model with unified rules. At the same time, participants stressed the importance of advisory support for newer EU Member States, where SMEs often struggle to access cohesion and innovation funding.

Recent research by Boston Consulting Group and Argos reinforced members’ optimism, showing that 90% of European SMEs consider reducing emissions “important or critical,” while 84% view decarbonisation as a business opportunity. WCLN members also engaged directly with the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group on the Climate Bank Roadmap 2026–2030, encouraging it to maintain its ambition and maximize impact through targeted initiatives.

Following the meeting, WCLN members joined the Climate & Energy Summit hosted by Friends of Europe, where they debated Europe’s energy independence, digital transformation, and long-term resilience with senior leaders from the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the EIB Group. WCLN participants contributed practical, market-driven solutions and emphasized the importance of energy efficiency for SMEs.

Over the last two years, WCLN has positioned itself as a strategic advisory body to the EIB Group, championing gender-inclusive leadership and climate innovation. The Brussels gathering underlined the transformative role of women leaders in shaping Europe’s green economy. As one participant concluded: “This is Europe’s Declaration of Independence—building resilience through energy autonomy, digital innovation, and a green economy rooted in shared values.”

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SOURCE: European Investment Bank