The European Union unanimously adopts a new industrial policy under the Presidency of Jean-Claude Marcourt
Jean-Claude Marcourt, Minister for the Economy, was successful in getting his Industry colleagues to pass the conclusions of the new European Union Industrial Policy. The conclusions were passed unanimously during the Competitiveness Council for industry which the Walloon Minister will chair through December 31st.
The Ministers for Industry were favourable to the Communication on an integrated industrial policy for the globalisation era that the Commission published last October 28th. The Communication was a flagship initiative of the EU 2020 Strategy. It gives a central place to industry in the European economy and reverses the trend seen in the 1990s when certain voices wanted to direct Europe towards a service economy. The Communication and the work carried out by the Presidency both contributed to modifying the image that political decision-makers had of industry.
The Presidency found a compromise between the advocates for a transversal policy that leaves substantial room for manoeuvre to Member States and those in favour of targeted sector policies. The conclusions insist on the importance of sustainability as a competitive advantage and not as a constraint. They underline the importance of involving strong energy, employment and training, and commercial policies as well as the Single Market Act and the Innovation Union.
SMEs received special attention which will be realised thanks to the revision of the Small Business Act to be released during the Hungarian Presidency. The Ministers for industry underscored the importance of access to financing for SMEs which have experienced more difficulty than large companies in getting access to risk capital markets. Access becomes all the more difficult as the size of the company decreases.
The external dimension of competitiveness within the context of a stronger single market and the intelligent specialisation of regions are two of the strong points of the Council’s conclusions.
The decision to extend aid for coal mine closures from 2010 through 2018 with no reductions was also passed by the Competitiveness Council for industry. This decision should give a little more breathing room to the four countries concerned by the issue, that is, Germany, Poland, Spain and Hungary.
Council: Competitiveness
