Brussels, 12/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - Madrid, Rome and Lisbon have signed a statement with the European Commission calling for the EU industrial base to be strengthened, in particular by supporting innovation.
During a conference on innovation, which was organised in Lisbon by Cotec (the network for promoting technological innovation in SMEs in Spain, Italy and Portugal) on 12 February, the Commission and authorities of these three countries adopted a joint statement for reindustrialisation in the EU, highlighting support for innovation.
Signed by European Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship Antonio Tajani, Spain's Minister for Industry José Manuel Soria, Italy's Minister for Education Maria Chiara Carrozza, and Portugal's Minister for the Economy Antonio Pires de Lima, the statement makes reference to “the specificities of Southern European economies, which include 54 million workers and 7 million businesses [which] require a special attention in terms of the establishing of the new industrial policy”. The statement advocates support of “economic growth of southern economies (…) through specialised branding, product quality, innovation, training, and new skills, making labour costs an increasingly less critical factor”.
The statement is in line with the call launched by the Commission in January advocating industrial renaissance (see EUROPE 11002). “We need a bolder attitude in implementing a convergent growth model, both through national and regional policies, as well as a coordinated effort on a European level, in particular through the EU Competitiveness Council”, the statement continues, saying that the adequate promotion of a consistent industrial policy must focus on five factors: - the promotion of R&D, innovation and entrepreneurship; the continued improvement of skills, apprenticeships and training; access to financing for SMEs; the advancement of the EU internal market; and the improvement of the regulatory framework. (EH/transl.fl)