CECE seeks coherent industrial policy

A coherent industrial policy could be vital for the future of construction equipment manufacturing in Europe, said Bernd Holz, president of CECE (the European Construction Equipment Industry Association), when he met European Commission vice president Jyrki Katainen in Brussels, Belgium.

Holz also highlighted market surveillance, international trade and regulatory compliance.

Katainen confirmed the Commission’s willingness and commitment to support EU industrial competitiveness, and said he looked forward to receiving further input on policy measures and initiatives.

To help safeguard the competitiveness of the European industrial base, to create jobs and to instil new sustainable economic growth in Europe, the European manufacturing industry is requesting a holistic industrial policy strategy and action plan at EU level.

Holz said, “I really appreciate the interest and the hands-on approach of Commissioner Katainen.

“I confirmed to him CECE’s readiness to deliver concrete examples of burdensome regulation, as well as new initiatives that we can put in place to reach the goal of 20% of EU GDP (gross domestic product) by industry.”

CECE said it was no secret that the initiative was an issue of controversy in the European Commission.

It said there was unanimous support, however, from Member States, expressed by the Competitiveness Council and endorsed by the Council Summit, and from several MEPs from all political groups in the European Parliament.

CECE is contributing input to the upcoming Parliament resolution, calling on the Commission to propose the industrial policy strategy which is to be adopted at its next plenary session on July 5.

CECE’s main request is to give Europe’s manufacturing industry the means to increase industry’s share of European GDP to 20% by 2020.

It said the major fields of action defined included such issues as reducing the administrative burden of complying with EU legislation, ensuring fair competition through better market surveillance, seeking greater international policy alignment to avoid technical barriers to trade, access to finance, digitalisation and new business models or investment in skills and talents.

A total of 128 European trade associations representing European manufacturing industries, including CECE, recently issued a joint declaration backing this request.