Brussels, 19/04/2004 (Agence Europe) - The result of delocalisation, is disindustrialisation a threat to Europe? The European Commission is to answer this question on Tuesday, with the adoption of two communications (see EUROPE of 17 April, p.8). This is a highly nuanced answer, with a clearly apparent will to play the situation down. Following its assessment, the Commission concluded that there is no proof of a generalised process of disindustrialisation, and puts the reduction of industry within production down as the result of the process of redirection of resources into services born in the 1950s. It added that delocalisations, which are difficult to quantify, come under the heading of a vast movement of investments overseas, of which the EU is one of the main beneficiaries. Whilst regretting the loss of activity and employment caused by these delocalisations, the Commission refuses to read into the situation a process towards "absolute disindustrialisation". This highly optimistic view of things did not however prevent the Commission from keeping its feet on the ground, while revealing various causes for concern. Faced with emerging economic powers such as China and India, it describes developments such as the net drop in productivity in the manufacturing sector, disappointing performances in that of high technology and the lack of innovation and investment in research on the part of the private sector as "worrying".
Against this backdrop, the Commission is to propose three types of measure to be included in the Lisbon process. Firstly, better assessment of consideration of the cumulated impact of provisions and regulations affecting the industrial sectors. Secondly, greater coherence and better co-ordination will be given to national policies on innovation, R&D and competitiveness: the Commission plans notably to adopt an action plan on this point in September. Lastly, it intends to recommend the generalisation of high-level consultations with the various economic sectors on subjects such as R&D, training, administrative provisions, etc, a formula which is currently limited to the aeronautical, pharmaceutical and shipbuilding sectors.
Aside from these measures, there will be a second communication, this Tuesday, in which the Commission will propose a step forward in a less usual area, that of competition. In this text, it is expected to announce the revision of the framework for State rescue and restructuring aid, R&D and innovation, venture capital and the development of certain regions, a reform called for by France and Germany last year. This reform will constitute an extra stage with a view to setting up a "proactive" competition policy after the entry into force of new regulations on antitrust and concentration control, on 1 May.