The Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU has invited ministers for industrial policy and competitiveness at an informal Industry Council in Sofia on 1 February, which will be overseen by the Bulgarian Minister for the Economy, Emil Karanikolov. During the council they will be able to hold an exchange of views and think about possible parameters
Following the European Commission’s communication last September, which left several national delegations somewhat disappointed - and the Council's conclusions of 30 November (see EUROPE 11916), the Bulgarian Presidency is calling on ministers to examine the “key” challenges in an effort to guarantee “an ambitious industrial strategy geared towards the future”.
The informal Council will open with a plenary session based on two major questions: factors shaping industry in 2030 at European and global levels; the objectives and priorities the new industrial strategy should contain in order to maintain a competitive European industrial sector.
Work will continue in two separate groups: one will focus on the value chain and the development of competitive advantages in the European economy, while the other will focus on new industrial development trends. It will also highlight the digitalisation of industry and the human dimension in the economic process.
The first session will in fact attempt to work out the advantages Europe has at an international level: infrastructure, technological know-how, etc. In this regard, the Presidency says that it would like to develop a common vision on how to develop and enhance these advantages to the full. The second session will attempt to ascertain the consequences of industrial digitalisation on the necessary skills required, employment levels and the redistribution of income, by taking into account regional economic structures. The Presidency's objective is to obtain a clear response and plan future initiatives.
Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden and the United Kingdom, will take part in the first session, as well as Iceland and Norway as members of the European Economic Area and the European Free-Trade Association. Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, France, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Romania, Poland, Slovenia and Spain, as well as Liechtenstein and Switzerland will participate in the second session.
High industrial energy consumers on afternoon agenda. A working dinner will follow on the subject of high industrial energy consumers in relation to digitalisation and climate change. In this regard, the Presidency will pose a range of questions to sharpen the discussions on how to underpin the digital transition and ecology of high energy consuming industries by 2050. Ministers will also be requested to give their views on the political options that the EU, member states and regional authorities will have to concentrate on in the future, in view of guaranteeing a stable regulatory framework. Finally, the Bulgarian Presidency would like to carry out a reflection exercise on ways to ensure appropriate public and private investment for innovation, large-scale projects and to facilitate market access for new technologies. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)