The Automotive Regions Alliance (ARA) High-Level Meeting 2026 will take place in Bilbao, the Basque Country, on 26–27 May 2026, bringing together European automotive regions, EU institutions and key industry stakeholders in a context of profound industrial transformation and increasing global competition.
The meeting will provide a high-level political platform to exchange views on the role of regions in supporting innovation and skills development, strengthening local content and implementing new European industrial policy instruments.
Tuesday, 26 May 2026 // 7.00 p.m. – 10.00 p.m.
Opening Ceremony
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Abandoibarra Etorbidea, 2
48009 Bilbao, Biscay
Wednesday, 27 May 2026 // 8.30 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.
ARA Plenary session + site visit
AIC-Automotive Intelligence Center
Parque Empresarial Boroa, P2-A4
48340 Amorebieta, Biscay
Please register by 30 April.
Due to limited capacity and to ensure an efficient and focused discussion, participation is limited to one representative, one sherpa and one cluster per region.
The ARA High-Level Conference 2026 offers an excellent opportunity for representatives from European automotive regions to:
The discussions will take place in the context of the Industrial Accelerator Act, recently presented as a key element of the EU’s evolving industrial policy framework aimed at strengthening industrial capacity, accelerating decarbonisation and reinforcing the resilience of European value chains.
7.00 p.m.
Accreditation
Meeting point: Guggenheim Museum entrance
7.30 p.m.
Guided tour to the museum
8.30 p.m.
Opening ceremony – Museum Atrium
Institutional welcome by the Basque Government and the Automotive Regions Alliance.
Simultaneous interpretation provided from/into SP, EN, FR.
8.50 p.m. – 10.00 p.m.
Cocktail reception
8.30 a.m.
Bus transfer from Bilbao to Amorebieta
9.00 a.m.
Reception and welcome coffee
9.30 – 09.35 a.m.
Welcome speech by Mikel Jauregi, Minister for Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability of the Basque Government
9.35 – 9.55 a.m.
Key-note addresses:
Stéphane Séjourné, Vice-President of the European Commission (tbc).
Andriana Sukova, Deputy Director-General of DG Employment
9.55 – 11.30 a.m.
Positions of the regions on the IAA.
Tour de table (3 minutes per region)
Simultaneous REMOTE interpretation provided from/into EN / FR / DE / ES / SK / CS / PL.
11.30 – 11.40 p.m.
Intervention by Christophe Grudler, EP rapporteur on the IAA (tbc)
11.40 – 11.50 p.m.
Intervention by María Chivite, CoR rapporteur on the EU Automotive Package
11.50 – 12.00 p.m.
Intervention by Willy Borsus, CoR rapporteur on the IAA
12.00 – 12.20 p.m.
Industry driven thematic panel – clusters’ view
12.20 – 12.30 p.m.
Concluding remarks and wrap-up
12.40 – 12.45 p.m.
Group photo with political representatives and the Basque Country ARA Declaration
12.45 – 2.00 p.m.
Lunch
2.00 – 3.30 p.m.
Site visit: AIC – Automotive Intelligence Center, a European open innovation center committed to innovation, talent development and sustainable mobility. (Visit in English only)
3.30 – 4.00 p.m.
Transfer to Bilbao city centre / airport
Attendance to activities
Please indicate your participation in the following activities during registration:
A limited number of rooms has been pre-booked at the Radisson Collection Hotel, Bilbao (5*), at negotiated rates ranging from €150 to €239 for the night of 26 May (breakfast included).
Participants wishing to benefit from this arrangement are kindly invited to send their details by 24 April to: ourbina@basquetrade.eus.
After this date, reservations will need to be made individually, subject to availability.
|
Date |
Description |
Price (incl. VAT) |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Tuesday, 26 May 2026 |
Collection Room – Single use |
€150.00 |
15 |
|
Tuesday, 26 May 2026 |
Collection Superior Room – Single use |
€239.00 |
35 |
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