Brussels, 06/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - The Commission firmly believes in the reindustrialisation of Europe as an essential element in the EU's growth strategy.
20% objective in 2020. European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Industry Commissioner Antonio Tajani underlined, on Thursday 6 June at a conference on industrial rebirth, the essential role played by the secondary sector in their growth strategy. Industry contributed less than 16% of GDP for the EU as a whole and they wish to restore it to 20% by 2020.
As part of an industrial policy strategy revised in autumn 2012, action plans for giving fresh momentum to key industrial sectors that face particular difficulties, such as the motor industry, construction and shipbuilding, have been adopted and implemented in collaboration with the capitals, industry and social partners, Commissioner Tajani pointed out.
To the rescue of steel. The steel sector will also be backed by a European action plan, to be unveiled by the Commission on 11 June. This common strategy for a European steel sector that is suffering “represents a crucial test of Europe's effective willingness to change some policies to reverse the declining process taking place in this sector”, Tajani warned. According to the initial elements given by the commissioner mid-May, the action plan for steel will provide a framework that member states should themselves flesh out with the measures they consider appropriate. He said some member states are in favour of public authority intervention while others are not, and that an intermediary course of action is being sought. Tajani added that the plan will establish a general context for action and will not focus on certain countries or regions. On Thursday, President Barroso pledged that “the energy issue should be an important feature in the steel action plan to be adopted by the Commission”, as the energy bill represents some 40% of total operational costs, he said.
Tackle by Barroso. On Thursday, Tajani also underlined the need to strengthen the role of the Competitiveness Council and to call for reindustrialisation during the next European Council devoted to industry and youth unemployment. “If we are playing a match at the EU level, then the industrial policy must play a key role in the open discussions on the new European economic governance”, he stressed.
Underlining the role of the secondary sector in the growth strategy defended by the Commission, President Barroso pointed a finger of blame at European leaders, saying: “We will not increase confidence when we see different governments trying to convey different messages or deepening sometimes completely futile debates, for instance the debate between austerity and growth. This is not helpful. This can only divide public opinion and it can only reduce the confidence that is so critical for investors and for consumers if we want to re-launch the European economy”.
The leader of the European executive institution called on the EU27 to focus on restoring normal lending to the economy. “Despite massive backing provided by governments and a supportive monetary stance of the ECB, leading conditions remain tight and access to finance is limited. This is especially the case in countries most hit by the banking and sovereign debt crisis, and even beyond”, Barroso added, in the certainty that investors still believe in the economy and industry's growth potential of Europe, which, he says, attracts ten times more R&D investments from the United States than China and India combined. (EH/transl.jl)