Debrecen4U November 4, 2026

European Political Forum Held in Debrecen with Focus on Automotive Industry

The European Conservatives and Reformists Group of the European Committee of the Regions met in Debrecen today to discuss the competitiveness of the European automotive industry and the sector’s future. Debrecen was said to have been chosen as the venue for the EU forum because it offers an exemplary model of cooperation in electromobility between manufacturers, suppliers, researchers, educational institutions and the city.

The event examined the future and competitiveness of the European automotive industry, as well as the global challenges it faces. Amid intensifying global competition, high energy costs, increasing regulatory burdens and vulnerable supply chains, Europe’s automotive industry is under mounting pressure and must maintain its global competitiveness while also safeguarding jobs.

The panel discussion explored the challenges facing the European automotive industry during this period of transformation, with particular attention paid to regional automotive ecosystems. Participants considered how regions and cities can encourage innovation, attract investment, support workforce skills development and help create a competitive and resilient future for the automotive industry.

Mayor László Papp said that Europe was facing enormous economic challenges, with particularly strong competitive pressure from the Far East. “I believe we need to provide appropriate responses to these challenges. Hungary is in a special and privileged position, with five major automotive companies contributing to the operation of the Hungarian economy. BMW, BYD, Mercedes, Audi and Suzuki effectively cover the entire country. There is a major automotive centre in every part of Hungary, and these companies provide livelihoods for tens of thousands of families. Over the past one to two years, these models have become increasingly popular, and Debrecen is among the cities that have committed to manufacturing fully electric cars. I hope the factory will continue to operate successfully over the coming decades and become a genuine success story for the city,” he stressed.

Anna Magyar, Vice-President of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, spoke about the difficulties facing Europe’s automotive industry. At the same time, she said, Debrecen offered an excellent example of how international cooperation can work when it builds on local expertise, local resources and local momentum.

Ádám Karácsony, Head of the Hungarian National Delegation to the European Committee of the Regions, said that Chinese car brands were entering the European Union at competitive prices and with increasingly high quality, presenting a significant challenge to European car manufacturers. “Debrecen’s example shows how European car manufacturing can remain competitive: German technology works together with a highly skilled Hungarian workforce. And when we talk about electric cars, we must also mention battery factories,” he pointed out.

Deputy Mayor Lajos Barcsa said that Debrecen had become one of the centres of the European automotive industry in recent years, which is why the city was considered an ideal venue for a conference addressing the crossroads currently facing the European automotive industry. “The European Commission decided that, from 2035, only zero-emission cars could be newly registered. This decision is now being reviewed, and a proposal has been put forward under which new conventional, internal combustion engine vehicles could still account for 10 per cent of new registrations,” he explained.

Source: dehir.hu | Photo credit: debrecen.hu