Brussels Textiles Forum 2026: Competitiveness, Circularity and 30 Years of EURATEX Skip to content About EURATEX Membership Our Members Become a member Annual Reports Our Network Events Team Contact Us Job Vacancies Trade & Internal Market
On 11 June, EURATEX hosted the
Brussels Textiles Forum
2026, bringing together 150 participants from the European textile and apparel ecosystem, EU institutions, industry, social partners and consumer organisations. Sponsored by Indorama Ventures, the event provided a timely platform to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the sector.
The Forum took place at a defining moment for Europe’s textile and clothing industry. High energy prices, global competition, regulatory pressure, e-commerce imports, sustainability requirements and geopolitical uncertainty are all reshaping the conditions under which European companies operate. Throughout the day, speakers and participants reflected on how Europe can support a textile industry that remains competitive, innovative and resilient while leading the transition towards sustainability and circularity.
Opening the Forum, EURATEX President Mário Jorge Machado underlined that Europe does not have a textile problem, but a competitiveness problem. His message set the tone for the day: European textile companies are ready to invest, innovate and decarbonise, but they need fair rules, affordable energy, effective enforcement and industrial conditions that allow production to remain in Europe.
The morning sessions focused on the competitiveness of the European Union and the future of the textile and clothing industry. Speakers highlighted the importance of reducing red tape, strengthening the Single Market, scaling innovation, improving access to investment and ensuring that European rules apply equally to all products placed on the EU market. The debate also confirmed the strategic role of textiles beyond fashion, including in healthcare, construction, transport, agriculture and defence.
A stakeholder pane
