The organisation Eurochambres put forward several proposals on Thursday 11 June concerning the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), in order to ensure the framework’s workability for all European businesses, particularly SMEs.
Regarding Chapter III, on strengthening the Union’s strategic industrial value chains, the organisation recommends that, where the IAA relies on Union origin rules, these should be based on the Union Customs Code rather than creating a separate regime. Given the inherent complexity of origin rules, particularly for SMEs, the Commission should pay particular attention to their feasibility for SMEs by avoiding unnecessary documentation.
It is also important to maintain an inclusive approach towards trusted partners. Eurochambres welcomes the fact that content from third countries with which the EU has concluded relevant agreements (for example, Free Trade Agreements, Customs Unions or the WTO Government Procurement Agreement) is considered equivalent to content of Union origin.
But “strong concerns remain that [...] the inclusive approach to trusted partners does not apply to vehicles assembled in those countries. This should be revised to include vehicles assembled in trusted partner countries”.
It is also important to preserve investment attractiveness and entrepreneurial freedom. Eurochambres warns that the proposed framework introduces rules on certain foreign investments that go beyond traditional security considerations.
Link to the position: https://aeur.eu/f/mar (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)