Oct 6 2005
In the face of globalisation and intense international competition, the European Commission has today launched a new, more integrated industrial policy to create better framework conditions for manufacturing industries in the coming years.
The manufacturing industry matters to the EU. It employs over 34 million people, it accounts for three quarters of EU exports and over 80% of EU private sector R&D expenditure. The new EU industrial policy will complement work at Member State level to support a strong and dynamic industrial base.
It includes seven new cross-sectoral initiatives – on competitiveness, energy and the environment, on intellectual property rights, on better regulation, on industrial research and innovation, on market access, on skills, and on managing structural change - which will benefit a wide range of industry sectors. In addition, the Commission brings forward seven new initiatives targeted at specific sectors, such as pharmaceuticals, defense and information and communication technologies. It focuses also on investment in skills and equipping people for change. This industrial policy aims to support adaptability and structural change to boost the competitiveness of EU manufacturing, especially in the light of increasingly strong competition from China and Asia. This is an important step in the delivery of the new Lisbon “Partnership for Growth and Jobs”.
Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen responsible for enterprise and industry policy said: “Manufacturing has a vital role to play in securing Europe’s future prosperity. There is no way back to the old days of protectionism and subsidies. Politicians don’t create jobs. But we can create the right framework for industry to thrive. Today’s strategy includes a range of new, tailor-made initiatives to make our industries attractive for investment and job creation.”
The Commission examined the policy challenges posed by different sectors through a systematic screening of and the policy challenges for 27 sectors of EU manufacturing industry and construction.
http://europa.eu.int/