Top thinkers from industry, government, universities, and think tanks across Europe gathered to discuss the continent’s competitiveness at the 2014 Bad Ragaz Group—the fifth meeting since the group was established in 2010. During the two-day meeting held under the Chatham House Rule, leaders examined a range of vital issues, including social and political challenges, economic developments, lessons in leadership, and the current state of industry, specifically manufacturing and high tech.

Europe faces wide-ranging economic, political, and social uncertainty and volatility. As the continent tentatively emerges from a protracted debt crisis, it must contend with growing anti-European Union (EU) sentiment, security challenges to the south and to the east, and looming demographic concerns as its population ages. In the year since the group last met, the continent has seen a multitude of geopolitical events, most notably the Russian annexation of Crimea, political gains by extremist parties in the European Parliament elections, and the Scottish independence referendum. At this year’s meeting, there was widespread agreement that geopolitics has reemerged as a crucial aspect of Europe’s future. Other themes were macroeconomic: the advantages caused by low oil prices and the devaluation of the euro, demographic challenges, and the perceived weaknesses of the EU and its institutions.

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