25/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - Machine tooling not fully satisfied. The association Cecimo, which represents 98% of the production of machine tools in Europe (34% of the global total), 83% of which is exported (half outside of Europe), 150,000 employees and a turnover in excess of €22 billion in 2012, welcomes the support of the European Council of 20-21 March to the manufacturing sector, but feels that the Council remains “too shy” on industrial policy. Welcoming the priority given to key generic technologies (implementation of projects of European interest) and the boost to skills in the field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, Cecimo laments the fact that the Council “remained vague” on how to implement its political priorities in a coordinated and integrated fashion and in a European context. It also regrets the lack of commitment for the 2020 objective of reindustrialisation promoted by the Commission, which aims to increase the share in EU GDP of the manufacturing sector to 20%. However, despite the lack of clear objections and an implementation framework, Cecimo sees the decisions of the European Council on its political priorities in a positive light, particularly when it comes to energy and climate, as well as its call to mobilise resources to re-establish normal credit lines for the real economy. (EH)