Brussels, 24/11/2003 (Agence Europe) - "Reconciling competitiveness and environmental performance: the industry responses" is the theme of an international conference hosted by the European Commission in Brussels on 24-25 November. Over 700 delegates from the EU institutions, member states, future member states, industry, trade unions, NGOs, and experts from international organisations will come together at a conference in Brussels on 24-25 November to examine progress towards an economically and environmentally sustainable model for EU industry. Among the issues to be discussed will be how industry has managed to decouple production growth from its impact on the environment over the last two decades: what were the main drivers, what have been the impacts on the competitiveness of companies and how can the European Union ensure the right framework for further progress towards an environmentally and economically sustainable model for i! ndustry? The conference, which will be opened by Enterprise Commissioner Erkki Liikanen, includes visits to local plants and case studies from a range of industry branches (pulp and paper, chemicals, steel, food, ceramics, car, petroleum). will provide best practice examples of how the EU's manufacturing industry has reduced its pressures on the environment. On Tuesday 25th, the conference will be looking at industry case studies and examples of best practice, and will conclude with a round table on "Ensuring the future balance between competitiveness and environmental performance: towards sustainable production". By way of follow-up to the conference, the Commission is preparing a Communication on Sustainable Production due to be published in the first half of 2004.