Cefic statement on Competitiveness Council: Industry calls are heard yet urgent follow up is needed

Following the Conclusions of the Competitiveness Council of 24 May, where industry ministers urged the European Commission to boost European competitiveness to implement the Green Deal and make industrial policy an integral part of the EU agenda for the next legislative mandate, Marco Mensink, Cefic Director General stated:

“Only a few years ago these Competitiveness Council Conclusions would not have been possible. We thank the Belgian Presidency in general, and Prime Minister De Croo in particular, for their leadership and look forward to working with the next Hungarian Presidency on this topic for the second half of 2024.

We are grateful that calls for action of the 1200 signatories of the Antwerp Declaration have been heard: Industry urgently needs the business case for investing in Europe.

This big step forward by the industry ministers now needs to be backed by the finance ministers, without whom real progress in industrial policy would not be possible. And then the conclusions of the Competitiveness Council need to be taken up by the Heads of State in the June European Council.

The Industrial Deal is there to implement the Green Deal and secure high quality jobs for European workers in Europe. To set the industrial policy agenda in stone during the new policy cycle, the European Council should monitor progress and regularly meet on the competitiveness agenda.

We thank the Competitiveness Council for allowing Cefic and IndustriALL to join the lunch debate on this key topic at the very moment the future of industry is at a crucial crossroad.”