2026 Sovereignty Barometer: A Loss of Sovereignty That Has Become Systemic
2026 Sovereignty Barometer: A Loss of Sovereignty That Has Become Systemic
In 2026, political instability has taken hold since the dissolution of the National Assembly, the economic war between Washington and Beijing is intensifying, and Europe is struggling to defend its interests. For the first time since the barometer was created, no strategic resource has been spared from sovereignty issues: raw materials, components, equipment, R&D, and data are all considered critical by both small and medium-sized enterprises and large corporations.
Deindustrialization is also resurging: factory closures once again outnumber openings, and industrial investment is increasingly shifting toward Asia and the Americas. Even agriculture, long a French strength, is becoming a source of concern. Food products are, in fact, cited as the most critical resources. Yet leaders are not giving up. To regain competitiveness and sovereignty, they are relying above all on their ability to innovate and better manage their operations.
Key Data for 2026
Competitiveness Against China
89% of business leaders believe that French industrial competitiveness is declining relative to China. 87% of them make the same observation regarding the United States. Falling behind is no longer just a scenario—it is what companies are experiencing and what business leaders are feeling.
Food sovereignty
33% cite food products as among their most critical resources—three times as many as a year earlier. Food sovereignty, long taken for granted, is becoming a strategic issue, even in France.
Innovation
76% of executives are banking on innovation to regain autonomy and competitiveness (+13 points compared to 2025). Conversely, fewer than one-third of respondents plan to rely on public funding, which does not appear to be a viable solution for businesses.
Download the 2026 Sovereignty Barometer
