It’s pantomime time!

In the UK we have a fascination with pantomimes. These are stories for children reenacted each year by a cross-dressing cast, and updated with new jokes lampooning current celebrities of all types - it’s wonderful family entertainment. This year, Cinderella is one of the pantomimes showing in London, a tale of a beautiful stepdaughter abused by her step-sisters but triumphing nevertheless. There has been a sort of dark pantomime on the world stage for the whole of 2025, and dire predictions of our European ‘civilisational erasure’ coming from the United States. But as long as we can keep our pantomime confined to the theatre, our civilisation looks safe.

The Industry Forum ‘WhatIF’ research team finally completed our two-year study of the big questions facing Europe right now. We have published our findings and conclusions this month, as a discussion paper, on our website under the title: ‘Europe on the Brink’ It identifies the threats to European democracies and territory coming from Russia and, sadly, the United States. These geopolitical earthquakes are changing the environment and opportunities for European businesses. Perhaps the best gift that Santa could bring Europe this year would be the courage and unity to work together to see off all foreign interference, and build a strong European economy?

In 2025 we have had a great programme of meetings. Next year, we will continue to bring businesses together with current and potential policymakers to look at key issues in industrial strategy, trade, infrastructure, transport, the energy transition and more. The big changes in the world, make this an especially exciting time to be discussing such subjects. We already have many meetings agreed and planned for 2026 including in January, a meeting on trade with India, and the economic benefits of a change to the electoral system which brought some strange results in 2024.

Thank you to our members and friends who have supported us this year and season's greetings to you, and all our friends around the world.