Iberdrola chairman urges faster electrification and stronger grid investment at European industry summit in Sweden

Galán calls for faster electrification and greater investment in networks to strengthen Europe’s industrial leadership

(IN BRIEF) Iberdrola Executive Chairman Ignacio Galán has called for faster electrification, stronger electricity grid investment and simplified administrative procedures during the European Round Table for Industry plenary meeting in Sweden. Speaking alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the Prime Ministers of Sweden and India, Galán stressed that electrification and modern energy infrastructure are essential for strengthening Europe’s industrial competitiveness, energy resilience and long-term sustainability. The summit also addressed artificial intelligence, industrial transformation and Europe’s evolving competitiveness strategy.

(PRESS RELEASE) BILBAO, 19-May-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Iberdrola Executive Chairman Ignacio Galán has called for faster electrification and increased investment in electricity networks to strengthen Europe’s industrial competitiveness and long-term economic resilience during the plenary session of the European Round Table for Industry held in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The high-level summit brought together senior European industrial leaders alongside major political figures including Ursula von der Leyen, Ulf Kristersson and Narendra Modi to discuss Europe’s competitiveness, energy transformation and industrial strategy in an increasingly complex global environment.

During the discussions, Galán emphasised that electrification remains one of the most important drivers of industrial growth and a critical component in creating a more sustainable, efficient and secure European energy system. He highlighted the need for continued expansion of clean energy generation while also stressing the importance of strengthening electricity grids and cross-border interconnections across Europe.

According to Galán, recent progress in European Union energy policy represents a positive step forward, but additional action is required to accelerate investment in grid infrastructure and simplify administrative procedures that currently slow down electrification projects and energy transition initiatives.

He also underlined the importance of regulatory stability and long-term predictability for attracting large-scale investment into energy infrastructure and industrial transformation projects across the continent.

The plenary meeting focused heavily on Europe’s current energy environment and the broader evolution of the European Union’s competitiveness agenda. Discussions also explored the growing role of artificial intelligence in accelerating industrial transformation and supporting productivity across key sectors of the European economy.

The Gothenburg summit followed a preparatory meeting hosted by Iberdrola at its headquarters in Bilbao one month earlier, where senior executives and advisers from the European Round Table for Industry worked on the agenda and policy priorities discussed during the Sweden gathering.

Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Brussels, the European Round Table for Industry brings together around 60 chairmen and chief executives from some of Europe’s largest companies. Collectively, the participating companies generate approximately €3 trillion in annual revenue, employ more than six million people globally and invest around €120 billion annually in research, development and innovation activities.

The discussions at the summit reflected growing concern among European industrial leaders about maintaining global competitiveness while simultaneously accelerating decarbonisation, expanding clean energy systems and adapting to rapidly evolving technological and geopolitical conditions.

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SOURCE: IBERDROLA