“Europe’s Attractiveness in a Changing World”
HERMAN VAN ROMPUY AND MICHEL BARNIER WILL BE PRESENT AT LA BAULE, FRANCE TO DISCUSS WITH LEADERS OF MAJOR COMPANIES

Paris, 11 March, 2010 – Pierre Guénant and Patrick Gounelle, Co-Chairmen of the Europe+ Foundation, which organizes the World Investment Conference (WIC), announce this morning the highlights of this 8th consecutive edition to be held on June 2-4, 2010 in La Baule, France.

On the platform, from left to right: Nathalie de Baudry D’Asson, Chief Editor World Investment Conference; Pierre Guénant, Co-Chairman of Europe+, Chairman of PGA Group; Patrick Gounelle, Co-Chairman of Europe+; Jean-Bernard Guérrée, CEO World Investment Conferences

The central theme of the WIC 2010 will allow global leaders in business, government, technology, finance and academia to debate on the new models for Europe’s attractiveness in a changing world with the objective to present concrete solutions for more rigorous and sustainable economic growth.

“The 2010 edition of the WIC takes place at a critical moment. Indeed, the shock of the economic crisis has already called into question growth models that were considered the norm two years ago. Governments are now regaining the initiative, not only as an authority in the regulation of the markets, but more particularly as an entrepreneur, an initiator of major structural projects. Europe must confront the challenge of relaunching growth, while preserving its social model,” declared Pierre Guénant, Co-Chairman of the Europe+ Foundation.

“Europe should redefine its economic, industrial and social model in the context of a reset of the world economy and intensify dialog with the other world economic powers,” commented Patrick Gounelle, Co-Chairman of the Europe+ Foundation.

In 2010, the World Investment Conference, in line with the Europe 2020 Strategy, is committed to advancing the ideas and experiences to be shared by investors and entrepreneurs in order to drive proposals for concrete and pragmatic solutions.

What investment opportunities does the European model offer? Which sectors and activities does it relate to? What are the core value-adds of Europe? How can Europe’s attractiveness render its fundamental assets even more competitive, while developing tomorrow’s technologies?

These questions will be addressed through panels, speeches and collaborative workshops to be organized around the following core topics:

• Government as an entrepreneur
• Changing patterns of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
• Infrastructure: Empowering Economic Growth
• Sustainable health: Is Europe’s health model a global business model?
• Harmonization, regulation and transparency: Is Europe’s business model really predictable?
• European Innovation Ecosystem
• Clean-techs: Can early awareness turn into business?

Ernst & Young will publish its highly expected annual survey on European Attractiveness at the World Investment Conference in La Baule, France. This year, the report will reveal investors’ answers on how they see Europe emerging from the crisis as competition among countries, regions and cities changes, along with foreign direct investment (FDI) patterns. It will also put forward participants’ responses regarding post-crisis opportunities and growth sectors.

WIC: What is new in 2010?
High-level participants, including CEOs and managers of European and international start-ups, but also European and international political decision-makers, will participate in this 8th edition of the WIC.

Herman Van Rompuy – President of the European Council, will participate in the Opening Debate of the Conference, along with Raya Haffar – Minister of Finance of Lebanon, Jianqing Jiang – Chairman of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and Didier Reynders – Vice Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Belgium.
Numerous personalities will comment the results of the Ernst & Young Attractiveness survey, amongst whom James S. Turley – Chairman & CEO of Ernst & Young global, Ben Verwaayen – President of Alcatel Lucent, Philippe Mellier – President of Alstom Transport and David Appia – President of the Invest in France Agency.

European and international CEOs will share their vision of Europe’s economic model in the context of roundtables dedicated to the WIC 2010 core topics, amongst whom Gilles Michel – Managing Director of the French Strategic Investment Fund (FSI), Philippe Carli – CEO of Siemens France, Clara Gaymard – President of GE France, John Vassallo – Vice-President, EU Affairs of Microsoft,…
The closing of La Baule-WIC 2010, in the presence of Michel Barnier – European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, will put forward the results of each and every Conference debate, along with the recommendations to political leaders to improve Europe’s attractiveness.
Emerging countries will also be honored as numerous delegations from the BRIC region are expected at La Baule and will contribute to confronting the needs of these new investor countries with the European proposals.

Since 2003, the World Investment Conference (WIC) is the only European conference focused on technology, business, investments and policies to stimulate global economic growth. Hosted by the Europe+ Foundation and co-founded by PGA and Ernst & Young, the WIC brings together annually through an exclusive high-level platform global business and political leaders with the objective to forge partnerships, attract investment, influence trends, share best practices and spur innovation and trade.

Full information on WIC 2010 conference including agenda, exhibitor information and registration is available at www.labaulewic.org

From left to right: Patrick Gounelle, Co-Chairman of Europe+; Jean-Bernard Guérrée, CEO World Investment Conferences

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