Yesterday, I hosted a roundtable with major players in the 🇪🇺 cement industry. The sector is committed to the clean transition and all the opportunities that come with it. But they are facing many challenges.

Great to reconnect with 🇦🇺 Chris Bowen, also in light of the strengthened 🇪🇺–🇦🇺 partnership on security, defence, and trade. We had a productive exchange on the EU’s expectations for COP31 and for global climate diplomacy. Let’s continue our discussions at the Petersberg Dialogue!

We’re live 🎬 A conversation with #EUclimatepact ambassadors on 🇪🇺 climate policy and how climate action integrates with broader priorities🎙️ Don't miss it ⤵️ climate-pact.europa.eu/articles-and...

📖 Boekenweek 📖 With everything happening right now, books remain, for me, a source of perspective, offering glimpses into different worlds. In honour of Boekenweek (‘book week’) in the Netherlands, I thought I’d share the books currently on my bedside table. And you, what are you reading?

Great to meet 🇱🇹 Minister Kastytis Žuromskas. We had a productive exchange on priorities for the upcoming Lithuanian Presidency in 2027. Encouraging to find strong alignment on advancing both our climate goals and competitiveness agenda.

Pleased to meet with Julian Popov, 🇧🇬Minister of Environment and Water. We agreed on the central role of the ETS and the innovation fund for the clean transition and the need to maintain ambition for climate, competitiveness and independence.

Good exchange with Marija Vučković, 🇭🇷 Minister of Environmental Protection and Green Transition. We had a constructive and ambitious discussion on key climate priorities and opportunities, including support by the Social Climate Fund and ETS2 Frontloading Facility.

Starting the day with a great conversation with 🇪🇪 Climate Minister Andres Sutt — we agree that climate action and competitiveness must go hand in hand to reach our climate goals.

Always great to speak with Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, 🇳🇴 Minister of Climate and the Environment. We discussed the good cooperation between EU and Norway on climate action, energy security and clean tech. We share the same domestic and international priorities.

Always great to speak to @nadiacalvino.eib.org, President of the @eib.org We discussed the Emissions Trading System, solar technologies, the important role of nuclear in the energy transition, clean tech and economic security — as well as the EIB’s key role in supporting decarbonisation.

On International Women’s Day, I pay tribute to girls and women everywhere who continue to fight oppression with relentless strength, with unbreakable courage. This strength and courage live within all of us. The power is in us.

Great news! Huge thanks to the @europarl.europa.eu and the @eucouncilnewsroom.bsky.social for finalising this so fast.

Congratulations to the new Dutch government. Looking forward to working together on a stronger and more resilient Europe.

Very good to welcome Juvencio Maeztu, CEO of Ingka Group (IKEA). We had a great discussion on resilience and competitiveness — and how businesses can achieve both while being climate-smart.

Always good to speak with 🇮🇹 Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani. We exchanged on EU politics, economy and competitiveness.

Great to see Senator @whitehouse.senate.gov again. We had a good conversation on geopolitics, transatlantic relations and climate policy. I am looking forward to my visit to US later this year.

Good to catch up with Alexander Dobrindt, 🇩🇪 Minister of Interior, on migration, German and European politics.

Good to see Hendrik Wüst 🇩🇪 to discuss European competitiveness.

Thank you to EU Climate Commissioner @wopkehoekstra.ec.europa.eu for meeting at the Munich Security Conference to discuss our shared net-zero and clean energy goals. We look forward to strengthening climate cooperation between California and the EU.

Very good to see 🇮🇸 Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir again in Munich. We discussed geopolitics and EU-Iceland relations.

As always great to catch up with 🇸🇪 @magdalenaandersson.socialdemokraterna.se in Munich and discuss national and European politics.

“Herinnering is als een hond die gaat liggen waar hij wil.” Cees Nooteboom was een literaire grootheid van de buitencategorie. Wat een boeken, wat een poëzie, wat een fenomenaal mooie zinnen.

I’ve delivered one message to the CEOs: invest in Europe. Stay in Europe. We offer predictability and stability. We have a direction of travel. It is climate, competitiveness, independence. Of course we still have work to do, and we need to do it fast. We will.

My message to the European Industry Summit in Antwerp: I'm ready to build the strongest business case for your industries to choose Europe. With speed. With scale. With access to affordable energy and new markets ↓ link.europa.eu/7kP6wk

I’ll be at the European Industry Summit later today alongside @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu and other European leaders, where we’ll be meeting with industry representatives from across Europe. My message ⤵️

As always a pleasure to meet 🇷🇴 Minister Diana Buzoianu. We had a good discussion yesterday on COP31 strategy and domestic climate policy.

Conversation très constructive avec la ministre🇫🇷 Monique Barbut à Nicosie. We touched upon key climate topics, including the Emissions Trading System, cars, and CBAM.

Great to be back in Cyprus for the informal Environment Council. An important start to the mission with a meeting with Minister Maria Panayiotou. We discussed key climate priorities, from strengthening climate resilience to shaping the EU’s strategy for COP31.

We announced a set of measures to help manage energy prices under the ETS on buildings and road transport set to kick-in in 2027. Today we’re delivering on one of these measures by fast-tracking investment to low and middle-income households and small businesses.

The EU must resist China’s pull in clean technologies, even as it confronts the reality that deteriorating relations with the US may be “permanent,” @wopkehoekstra.ec.europa.eu told Bloomberg 👇 www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Great to reconnect with @chrisbowenmp.bsky.social 🇦🇺, President of negotiations for COP31. We reflected on COP30 and the lessons that will shape preparations for COP31 in Türkiye. Discussions with EU Member States kick off next week—important to get moving early.

Very good exchange with @bundestag.de President Julia Klöckner on Europe’s growth agenda and the positive stories coming from the cleantech sector. We also spoke about the important role of parliaments in policy making.

🗓️Wed 28/01, 14.45 CET - debate with Commissioner @wopkehoekstra.ec.europa.eu Proposals on CO2 emission standards for new light duty vehicles & vehicle labelling, amending CBAM & establishing the temporary Decarbonisation Fund 🎥Watch live: multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/envi-comm...

It was a pleasure to catch up with Jens Spahn. We discussed decarbonisation, competitiveness, and the evolving political and geopolitical context shaping Europe today. 📸 CDU/CSU-Bundestagsfraktion

In Berlin today for the Welt Economic Summit and meetings. Great first exchange with 🇩🇪 Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder. Excellent discussion on decarbonisation of transport, competitiveness, independence, simplification.

Europe and India are making history today. We have concluded the mother of all deals. We have created a free trade zone of two billion people, with both sides set to benefit. This is only the beginning. We will grow our strategic relationship to be even stronger.

Staying close to science matters more than ever. Excellent discussion with Johan Rockström in Davos on the latest scientific data, COPs and climate action. @pik-potsdam.bsky.social

Very good to see 🇳🇴 Norwegian Minister of Finance @jensstoltenberg.bsky.social in Davos. We exchanged views on climate action and geopolitics.

Very good to speak with 🇨🇭 Minister of Finance Karin Keller Sutter. We discussed taxation, Pillar One and Two, geopolitics, and in particular the support for Ukraine.

As always great to catch up with Christine Lagarde @ecb.europa.eu @president.ecb.europa.eu in Davos 🇨🇭 We exchanged on climate, competitiveness and the state of economic affairs.

In Davos 🇨🇭 this week to have important discussions on competitiveness, security and independence in a difficult geopolitical context.

Recibo las terribles noticias desde Córdoba. Mi más sentido pésame a las familias y seres queridos de las víctimas del accidente ferroviario y al pueblo español. Deseo una rápida y completa recuperación a los heridos. Esta noche estáis en mis pensamientos.

With sadness I learned about the passing of Cyprus' former President, Giorgos Vassiliou. A man with a vision, he modernised Cyprus, advanced its peace process and paved its way into our Union. He was a true European. My heartfelt condolences go to his family and all of Cyprus.

The climate is changing at an unprecedented rate, driven by human activity, and will have far-reaching consequences for every single one of us. The latest Copernicus data shows once again the seriousness of this issue ⤵️

Good to meet Boris Schucht, CEO of @urencogroup.bsky.social Insightful discussion on nuclear’s role in the energy mix, on industrial decarbonisation, EU competitiveness and energy security.

It was a pleasure meeting 🇫🇷 Minister Delegate Éléonore Caroit for the first time in Brussels. We had a very good discussion on climate and taxation files.

Today’s Council decision to support the EU-Mercosur deal is historic. Europe is sending a strong signal. We are serious about creating growth, jobs and securing the interests of Europeans consumers and businesses.

The UNFCCC underpins global climate action. It brings countries together to support climate action, reduce emissions, adapt to climate change, and track progress. The decision by the world’s largest economy and second-largest emitter to retreat from it is regrettable and unfortunate.

A strong start to the year for international taxation: the OECD Pillar Two simplification and side-by-side package is agreed. This is a welcome step that stabilises the global tax system, simplifies rules, ensures fairness and keeps businesses competitive.

Today, we’re strengthening CBAM for competitiveness, climate, independence. These measures protect Europe’s industries, safeguard climate investments, and ensure fair competition while cutting emissions. Building on lessons from the transitional period, we are closing loopholes.