On Friday 18 July in Copenhagen, the EU’s internal market and industry ministers were able to provide an initial assessment of the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) presented by the European Commission two days earlier (see EUROPE 13682/6). For several of them, while the announcement of such a Fund is good news, it is important not lose sight of the other areas of work to strengthen competitiveness.
For the French minister, Marc Ferracci, the sum of €409 billion announced by the Commission will enable investment in both research and development, and capacity investment. He mentioned in particular the heavy industries in transition, such as the automotive and steel industries, and the battery sector, which in particular needs to grow. “This is how we will build our strategic autonomy in this absolutely crucial technology”, he added.
Asked about the size of the ECF, Morten Bødskov, the Danish Minister for Industry, told Agence Europe that the sum allocated to the Fund seemed to him to be “correct”.
However, like several other ministers, he insisted that the ECF would not be enough to solve all competitiveness problems. “We need much more if we want to strengthen European industry and create more jobs and more growth for employees”.
“The Competitiveness Fund will be useful, but it won't be enough”, also warned Michał Baranowski, Polish Undersecretary of State. In his view, it is important for European funds to be examined “in a coherent manner”, taking account of industrial policy, regulatory policy and trade policy. “At least these three areas can provide a framework for our industry to thrive”, he said.
Essential simplification. Latvia and Finland also mentioned fundamental problems to be resolved in the internal market. “The key to enabling competitiveness is a fair framework that guarantees to companies that their products can be launched in the market within a completely normal timeframe and can be made available to the public not in four, five or seven years, but within a year”, said Jurģis Miezainis, the Latvian representative.
On the subject of cumbersome procedures and regulatory burden, the Danish minister, Morten Bødskov, whose country holds the Presidency of the EU Council until the end of the year, expressed his commitment to pushing ahead with work on the ‘omnibus’ simplification texts.
He cited the first of these, on corporate sustainability, which could be the subject of negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council before the end of the year, if the Parliament adopts its position in November. “We hope for a fast agreement but also a broad compromise on that because that is really what is needed”, he said. (Original version in French by Anne Damiani and Léa Marchal)