Brussels, 03/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - The Italian Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers is placing the Community “industrial renaissance” strategy at the centre of its action, focusing on SMEs, Italy's minister for economic development, Federica Guidi, told the European Parliament's industry committee on 2 September. The industrial renaissance strategy aims to bring the manufacturing share of the EU's GDP to 20% by 2020.
Guidi's top priority will be to assess the implementation of this integrated strategy - proposed last January by the former European industry and entrepreneurship commissioner, who has now become an MEP again, Antonio Tajani - at the same time as the new 2030 climate and energy policy framework, so as to strengthen the EU's industrial base. Guidi is determined to promote an integrated approach between the industrial policy and all policies and instruments that have an impact on the EU's competitiveness - a concept known as “mainstreaming” in Community jargon.
“Growth and jobs are the top priority for Italy's six month term. European governance must be strengthened as regards competitiveness”, stated Guidi, who intends to strengthen the roles of the Competitiveness Council and the high level group on competitiveness and growth. The Italian Presidency also wants to stimulate the full implementation of the Small Business Act for SMEs.
“I hope that, under Italian presidency, we will have a real Competitiveness Council that acts as a pillar alongside the Ecofin Council”, said Tajani (EPP, Italy), particularly highlighting access to credit when he made his speech. “We call for very strong action from the Italian Presidency on this issue. Without SMEs, we will not be able to create this social market economy that the EU needs”, he said. “For a stronger industrial policy, governance needs to be strengthened”, said Patrizia Toia (S&D, Italy). “For the objective of a 20% share of the manufacturing sector in EU GDP, more appropriate instruments must be found”, she said, calling for a focus on instruments that have a leverage effect and risk-sharing finance instruments, and for a focus on the commercialisation of R&D results.
Italy's minister for education and research, Stefania Giannini, mentioned investment in research and training, as well as mobility for researchers in the EU and the promotion of the partnership on research and innovation with the Mediterranean area (PRIMA initiative), as major priorities for her programme during Italy's current presidency of the EU Council of Ministers (our translation throughout). (EH)