2023 was the first year in which EFB held its Next Generation event! 

Having been originally scheduled for March 2020 and unable to go ahead due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year on 24 and 25 April 2023, we were able to hold our event! 

Under the title Brussels from the inside: NextGens Tomorrow’s Leaders, this event provided a group of 50 NextGens from different European countries with the opportunity to engage in different activities that aimed to show them, firsthand, the work of the main European institutions. This event also provided them with the opportunity to network with NextGen business owners from other EU Member States. 

On 24 April, the event began with a private visit of the D’Ieteren Gallery, a 7th generation family business, to visit a private car collection. This activity was then followed by a visit to the Grand Place for a chance to see the famous square. The first day continued with two learning sessions from EFB’s Sponsors KPMG and For Talents and a networking dinner.

For the second day of the event, 25 April, the group of NextGeners took part in discussions at the Visitors’ Centre of the European Commission where they had gained an insight into how the Commission works, how proposals become regulations or directives, how DG GROW’s Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs seek to build capacity and support SMEs in their transition and a session on the European Green Deal.

After this informative and engaging morning, the Next Geners went to the European Parliament for a lunch debate hosted by MEP Martina Dlabajová. This session enabled the development of a dialogue between a small group of MEPs and our NextGeners. The day ended with a visit to the European Parliament’s Hemicycle.

We thank all the participants and speakers for attending EFB’s first NextGens event.