Brabant meets Europe at the second "kathedralenbouwersbijeenkomst" in Den Bosch
Held at the Cathedral Basilica, this event, spearheaded by Tilburg University, TU/E, and VNO-NCW Brabant, featured inspiring talks by Minister of Social Affairs and Employment, Karien van Gennip, and Robert-Jan Smits. Their speeches, complemented by a musical interlude from trumpeter Eric Vloeimans, touched on Brabant's heritage of entrepreneurship and community support.
Van Gennip recounted her Brabant family history and how her parents and grandparents dedicated themselves to supporting affected farmers' and girls' education. "Entrepreneurship and looking out for one another characterize Brabant," said Van Gennip, "even now, which is crucial given the widening gap between rich and poor." "Social stewardship is the common thread through which we can shape the future, as a society, not as individuals," said the demissionary vice-premier.
She also addressed Europe's position on the global stage, emphasizing the indispensable need for investments in companies like ASML to strengthen Europe's position vis-à-vis the US and China: "This enables us to achieve strategic autonomy." The minister thus echoed the words of Robert-Jan Smits, Chairman of the Board of the Technical University of Eindhoven.
In his introduction, he called for strengthening the competitiveness of the European Union. "The foundation is strong, and we must build upon it: Europe has much to offer. With 7% of the world's population, we generate 25% of the world's knowledge," said Smits, portraying the EU's familiar approach as a Procession of Echternach: two steps forward, one step back. "As long as that one step forward exists, there is hope."