EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton assured MEPs on Tuesday 28 January that he was the Commissioner for all industries and, of course, traditional ones too, before the Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE) MEPs, many of whom were beginning to worry that he had pivoted too sharply towards the digital sector.
The Commissioner gave a keynote speech focusing on digital and new technologies, devoting a large part of his speech to the issues of European sovereignty over its data, the development of “made in Europe” artificial intelligence and the paradigm shift brought about by 5G (see other news). Then he rushed through what is at stake in the defence and space industries in a few minutes, due to lack of time.
Several MEPs, such as Zdzisław Krasnodębski (ECR, Poland) or Jens Geier (S&D, Germany), were surprised by the absence of so-called traditional industries (such as the steel sector) in the Commissioner’s speech. “Let there be no misunderstandings: my portfolio is large. When I talk about industry, I’m talking about all industries!” said the Commissioner. His role will be to put all his weight on the scale to ensure that traditional industry “stays and grows”, he reiterated, citing industrial strategy, the need to ensure fair competition with other states – seemingly targeting the US and China – and the carbon inclusion mechanism at the EU’s borders.
Getting to know European deposits better
Speaking about traditional industries, the Commissioner stressed the importance of looking at the deposits in the soils of the European continent in order to access critical materials, the list of which will have to be updated, he said. “I also want us to look at what is available in Europe when assessing the geopolitical risks associated with the necessary supply”, he continued, citing the services of the European Earth observation programme Copernicus to “better understand our European subsoil, which is still very poorly known”.
No Buy European Act?
Asked by Christophe Grudler (Renew Europe, France) about the need to adopt a ‘Buy European Act’ (in reference to the Buy American Act), which is very active on the issue of European preference (see EUROPE 12411/6), the Commissioner seemed to be very cautious on the issue. “It already exists, there are mechanisms... Does that mean we have to display all this? I'm not sure it won't be worse than better”, he replied, seeming to validate the “don't say it, but do it” approach, in the words of one parliamentary source.
SMEs
Although the strategy for SMEs was not at the heart of the discussions, the issues facing SMEs were brought up by several MEPs. Here too, the Commissioner assured that he will work to integrate them fully into his matrix, focusing on barriers within the internal market, difficulties in accessing finance and the need to reduce payment times.
Commissioner Breton’s calendar promises to be busy and will initially focus entirely on digital: on 29 January, the College of Commissioners will adopt a Communication on 5G, followed on 19 February by a proposal to develop a European Artificial Intelligence.
On 4 March, a new phase, also very full, will kick off with the simultaneous presentation of an industrial strategy, a strategy for SMEs, a rapporteur on obstacles in the single market and an action plan to strengthen the implementation of European rules for the single market. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)