Brussels, 26/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - The MEP Olga Zrihen (Belgian Socialist) is to hold a press conference on the European Union's industrial policy, in Brussels on 27 May, ahead of the presentation the same day by Commissioner Erkki Liikanen, of the Commission's communication on the theme "Accompanying structural change: an industrial policy for the enlarged Europe". Ms Zrihen will be accompanied by Reinhard Kuhlmann, of the European Federation of Metallurgists, which, according to her press release, represents over 6.5 million workers in Europe.
On 23 October 2003, the press release continues, the European Parliament adopted the Zrihen report, proposing the implementation of a "genuine action plan for European industry, stemming from open concertation with all parties concerned, including the Unions". The action plan, "which aims both to manage painful industrial change in terms of jobs and strongly to invest in new high added-value productions, will take several paths, including a genuine strategy of investment in research, teaching, training and qualifications".