The UN Global Compact convened senior sustainability leaders, policymakers, and business representatives at the European Parliament on June 11, 2026, for the European Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) Platform meeting. The gathering focused on exploring how sustainability can strengthen competitiveness, resilience, and long-term value creation for leading European companies. Held at a pivotal moment for Europe's sustainability agenda, the forum facilitated the exchange of practical insights and discussions on emerging regulatory developments.

Participants addressed the challenge of creating an enabling environment through predictable policy signals and incentives that reward ambition. The discussions emphasized that businesses require regulatory predictability and policy coherence to continue investing in impactful sustainability actions while maintaining long-term competitiveness. Leaders examined how to navigate an operating environment shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, technological disruption, and economic volatility.

Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, stated that Europe's competitiveness and sustainability ambitions are increasingly interdependent. She emphasized that businesses are ready to invest in the transition but cannot do it alone, requiring frameworks that reward ambition and accelerate innovation. Ojiambo highlighted the necessity of stronger collaboration between business, policymakers, and civil society to ensure sustainability drives economic prosperity.

A key theme of the meeting was ensuring the voice of responsible business is represented in European policymaking. Participants explored how companies can contribute credible and solutions-oriented perspectives to policy discussions. The UN Global Compact highlighted its role as a trusted convener, enabling sustainability leaders to share experiences and develop collective approaches through platforms like the European CSO Platform.

The meeting drew on findings from the UN Global Compact's latest discussion paper, "Strategic Dilemmas Shaping the Future of Corporate Sustainability." The document examines the evolving role of Chief Sustainability Officers and the strategic questions facing businesses as sustainability becomes integrated into corporate strategy and risk management. The European CSO Platform supports the UN Global Compact's 2026–2030 Strategy by fostering shared learning and collective influence on policy discussions.