DÜSSELDORF (dpa-AFX) - Ahead of a high-level meeting of North Rhine-Westphalia's (NRW) top business leaders in Brussels, Minister-President Hendrik Wüst (CDU) has emphasized the significance of the region's economy for the European Union (EU). NRW's economic strength is 20 percent above the EU average, Wüst stated in Düsseldorf, citing a study by the German Economic Institute (IW) commissioned by the State Chancellery.
With around 18 million inhabitants, NRW is the most populous federal state and, according to Wüst, serves as a "pace-setter and enabler" unlike almost any other region. Economically, NRW can compete with entire countries; its gross domestic product surpasses that of Poland, for example.
"Anyone considering Europe's economy must also consider North Rhine-Westphalia," Wüst said. "Europe and our industry are inseparably linked." He noted that an increasing number of economic framework conditions are set in Brussels--and as an industrial hub, NRW is particularly affected by these developments. "That is why it is crucial that our interests are also heard at the European level," Wüst stressed.
Meeting with von der Leyen Amid Tense Times
On Wednesday (July 2), twelve CEOs of major companies and Wüst (CDU) will meet with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels. According to the NRW State Chancellery, the CEOs of Eon, Henkel, Evonik, Uniper, Thyssenkrupp, DHL, Rheinmetall, Hochtief, Rewe, Lufthansa, Covestro, and Lanxess will be present at the working dinner. Together, the companies represented at the meeting generate around 500 billion euros in revenue and employ nearly 1.5 million people.
The economic situation in NRW is currently tense. According to the second economic report by the RWI-Leibniz Institute for Economic Research, NRW's economic output is expected to grow by just 0.1 percent this year. High energy prices and international competitive pressure continue to weigh on the industry, but it is gradually gaining stability, the RWI noted. For 2026, the institute forecasts overall growth of 1.5 percent for NRW, matching the projection for Germany as a whole./dot/DP/nas
