Rotterdam, 4 February 2026 – The European Chemical Regions Network (ECRN) held its 2026 General Assembly in Rotterdam at Hotel New York, kindly hosted by the Region of Zuid-Holland. The Assembly gathered representatives from Europe’s leading chemical regions to review past achievements, reinforce collaboration, and set strategic priorities for the future of the European chemical industry.
The meeting opened with welcome addresses from representatives of the Port of Rotterdam and Regional Minister Arne Weverling, who emphasised the strategic role of chemical clusters in strengthening Europe’s industrial competitiveness.
First of all, the Network acknowledged and thanked the Lombardy Presidency, which is stepping down after years of significant growth. Under the leadership of Regional Minister Guido Guidesi, ECRN expanded from 10 to 21 members, establishing itself as a direct interlocutor with the European Commission in discussions on the sector’s recovery and development. At the same time, it supported companies in accessing European funding opportunities through participation in six EU-funded projects, securing approximately €19 million in financial resources. Significant efforts were also made to facilitate connections between industrial districts, strengthening collaboration and enhancing the capacity to operate as an integrated system.
During his speech in Rotterdam for the handover ceremony, Minister Guidesi reiterated that “without the chemical industry, Europe’s economy has no future. It is our responsibility to continue supporting the sector to make it more efficient and sustainable, but it is also our duty to safeguard its presence and strengthen the competitiveness of our companies. Through strong teamwork, we have succeeded in bringing the European Union’s attention back to a fundamental sector that cannot and must not be abandoned.”
The event also marked the beginning of Catalonia’s Presidency of the Network. Jaume Baró, Secretary of Enterprise and Competitiveness at the Ministry of Business and Labour of the Government of Catalonia since August 2024 and CEO of ACCIÓ since September 2024, officially assumed leadership of ECRN.
During the event, Jaume Baró emphasised that “Catalonia is taking on the presidency of ECRN with humility, but also with the ambition to accelerate and help shape policies that support the competitiveness of Europe’s chemical sector, which is where key strategic challenges are currently being addressed.” He further noted that “the European Commission’s recognition of the network of regions within the framework of the Critical Chemical Alliance represents an opportunity that must be fully leveraged.”
The composition of the New Board has been voted: Jaume Baró (Catalonia) Guido Guidesi (Vice President, Lombardy), Tobias Gotthardt (Vice-President, Bavaria), Stephan Satijn (Vice-President, Limburg), Arne Weverling (Board Member, South Holland), Vincenzo Colla (Board Member, Emilia-Romagna) and Sylwia Sztark (Board Member, Mazovia).
During the Assembly, ECRN awarded honorary membership to Maria Dolors Núñez, former Team Leader for Technological Opportunity Analysis at ACCIÓ, and Thomas Wobben, Director at the Committee of the Regions. Maria Dolors Núñez dedicated many years of outstanding service to ECRN and played a key role in the Network’s development and expansion. Thomas Wobben was among the founders of ECRN during his tenure as Head of the Saxony-Anhalt Office and, over the years, remained closely engaged with the Network, continuing to serve as a valued reference and supporter.
The Assembly concluded with a site visit to the chlorine cluster in the Port of Rotterdam, giving participants direct insight into one of the port’s most distinctive industrial ecosystems. The cluster brings together a network of companies interconnected through pipeline infrastructure, enabling the efficient exchange of materials whereby one company’s by-product serves as another’s feedstock. This integrated system supports the production of key inputs for insulation materials, construction products, and pharmaceuticals.
