Eurogroup Consulting unveils the results of its new Baromètre des dirigeants français 2026, carried out in partnership with the entrepreneurs' network of the French Chambers of Commerce and Industry, CCI France Internationalthe French Foreign Trade Advisors and BFM Business.
Faced with geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainties and political instability, France's leaders have opted for action. They are no longer waiting for a hypothetical return to stability: they decide to go ahead and to stay the course.
The 2026 edition of the Barometer, based on over 1,000 responses from business leaders based in France and abroad, reveals a major strategic shift: caution has given way to assertiveness.
2026: STAYING THE COURSE
Managers' state of mind
Three strategic priorities are emerging
Managers have clearly prioritized their areas of action:
- Profitability and economic performance: 83% (+10 points) VS 2025)
The top priority remains preserving and restoring margins. - International development: 56% (+20 points)
The real signal for 2026: a spectacular acceleration in international appetite. Entrepreneurs will seek profitability wherever they think they can find it. - Human resources: 52% (+5 points)
The battle for talent remains central. Human capital remains the differentiating factor par excellence.
The ambition to expand internationally
The map of opportunities is becoming clearer. While Europe remains the natural terrain for expansion, the attraction of South-East Asia is confirmed and the Middle East makes a notable breakthrough, moving up from rank 5 to rank 3 in one year.
In their choice of location, managers are above all guided by economic pragmatism: 87% put the local economic context first. Managers go where the economy works, where the markets are dynamic and where growth is on the cards.
Risks that still give cause for concern
In the ranking of countries judged most favourable to competitiveness: the United States (23%), l’Italy (12%) and the China (10%) come out on top. Note that the United States is cited half as often as in 2025, while Italy has made significant progress and now overtakes China.
A word from Gilles Bonnenfant, Chairman of Eurogroup Company
Managers have entered a new paradigm. They no longer seek to regain pre-crisis visibility, they no longer wait for a return to stability before moving forward, they choose to navigate in spite of uncertainty.
The real signal is the 20-point jump in the international appetite of French managers. Entrepreneurs are looking for profitability wherever they think they can find it. While Europe remains the natural breeding ground, the attraction of Southeast Asia and the emergence of the Middle East is confirmed.
The diagnosis of economic sovereignty is clear: 68% consider it a priority, but 78% consider our responses insufficient. Our companies demand that we do not stand in their way. Regulatory simplification, ambitious industrial policies: this is where our competitiveness lies.
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Discover all the detailed results, analyses by sector and company size, and the outlook for the coming year.
