The Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, Stéphane Séjourné, is rallying support for the Commission’s upcoming action on the ‘Industrial Accelerator Act’ and the concept of ‘European preference’, scheduled for adoption by the College of Commissioners on 29 January.
To counter attempts at destabilisation, particularly by foreign companies opposed to the project, the person in charge has called on the support of European economic and industrial sectors as well as SMEs, professional associations and trade unions to promote this future legislation, in a draft joint opinion piece.
As a reminder, this ‘Act’ will seek to introduce European content or workforce thresholds in public procurement or automotive production.
“As the rules of trade are being redefined, we have no choice anymore”, writes the Executive Vice-President in this draft opinion piece, seen by Agence Europe.
“Now is the time for Europe to produce more, and above all, more strategically. To ensure our economic security, we must support and de-risk our key value chains”.
He called on the EU’s economic and political leaders to “establish, once and for all, a genuine European preference in our most strategic sectors”.
Every use of European public funds must contribute to European production. “Whether a public auction, a direct State aid support or any another form of financial support, the beneficiary company will have to produce a substantial part of its output on European soil”. This logic will apply to foreign direct investments.
The Executive Vice-President also promises that these new measures will not increase the administrative burden on businesses. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic with Anne Damiani)