# Launch of the Rhine Group for EU competitiveness

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/launch-of-the-rhine-group-for-eu-competitiveness
> Updated: 2026-08-31T04:58:00.000Z. Sources: 41. Developments: 3.

Mario Draghi and Stripe CEO Patrick Collison have launched the Rhine Group, a pro-European think tank intended to address the declining economic competitiveness of the European Union. The group aims to implement policy reforms based on Draghi’s 2024 report, focusing on closing the technological gap in sectors such as artificial intelligence to ensure Europe can fund essential functions like defense, healthcare, and climate investments.

While the group comprises approximately 55 influential figures from business, academia, and politics, it has faced criticism regarding its regional representation. Observers noted a significant lack of involvement from Central and Eastern European member states, with only former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves representing the region. Critics from countries such as the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia have characterized this as a failure of inclusivity.

Recent developments clarify the group’s operational structure and specific objectives. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Rhine Group operates through a trust service. This choice of location has drawn scrutiny from critics who question the organization’s transparency and the appropriateness of using a Swiss-based trust for an initiative dedicated to European interests.

The group intends to move beyond theoretical frameworks to provide concrete recommendations to national and European policymakers. Its mission focuses on addressing Europe’s perceived lag in major technological revolutions, including AI, robotics, and biotechnology, which members suggest could lead to long-term economic decline and a loss of independence. The Rhine Group’s first meeting is scheduled for late September 2026.

## Claims

- Mario Draghi and Patrick Collison have founded a new think tank called the Rhine Group. (corroborated by 20 sources)
- Luis Garicano, a former MEP, will serve as the executive director of the organization. (corroborated by 20 sources)
- Only four of the world's fifty largest technology companies are European. (corroborated by 19 sources)
- The Rhine Group aims to drive structural reforms within the European Union to compete with the US and China. (corroborated by 19 sources)
- The group aims to transform the conclusions of the 2024 Draghi report on European competitiveness into actionable policy reforms. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- The Rhine Group is a coalition of 52 influential figures from business, academia, and finance. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-31: Mario Draghi launches Rhine Group to boost European competitiveness

Mario Draghi and Stripe CEO Patrick Collison have launched the Rhine Group, a think tank designed to implement economic reforms and boost European technological competitiveness and strategic autonomy.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mario-draghi-launches-rhine-group-to-boost-european-growth

### 2026-08-26: Mario Draghi launches Rhine Group to drive EU economic reforms

Mario Draghi and Patrick Collison have launched the Rhine Group to drive European economic reforms, though the group faces criticism for lacking representation from Central and Eastern Europe.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mario-draghi-launches-rhine-group-to-drive-eu-reforms

### 2026-08-24: Rhine Group launched by Mario Draghi and Patrick Collison

Mario Draghi and Patrick Collison have launched the Rhine Group, a think tank of 55 leaders aiming to drive economic reforms and boost European competitiveness against the US and China.

31 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mario-draghi-and-patrick-collison-launch-rhine-group-to-boost-european-competitiveness

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Cite as: Launch of the Rhine Group for EU competitiveness. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/launch-of-the-rhine-group-for-eu-competitiveness