Shifting Gears for a New EU Industrial Partnership

Manifesto of the Alliance for a Competitive European Industry (ACEI)

On 26 February the Alliance for a Competitive European Industry (ACEI) regrouping European automotive, chemicals, cement, pulp and paper, food and drink, textile and apparel, electricity, iron and steel, non-ferrous metals, oil refining and engineering industries, and BUSINESSEUROPE, presented its new manifesto “Shifting Gears for a New EU Industrial Policy”.

The document gives an overview of the main challenges faced by industry and manufacturing sectors in Europe. It also presents the main priorities for action for Europe to have a highly innovative, competitive industrial base. The document was sent to the EU Competitiveness Council on 1-2 March.

“Europe needs a vibrant manufacturing industry to spark the economic recovery, innovation and growth required to meet the societal and environmental challenges which lie ahead.  Manufacturing provides a fifth of EU GDP and provides three quarters of EU exports.  Over 80 % of the EU private sector research and development expenditures are provided by industry.  Manufacturing firms are also key clients of many services activities.  Many of the services jobs in the EU would be lost without a strong industrial base.”

• Partnership: EU institutions and the private sector can and must work more closely to secure the future of Europe’s industrial base.
• Growth: we need to establish the right mix of fiscal, monetary and financial policies to re-invigorate economic dynamism, while ensuring that European industry comes out of the economic crisis more competitive and innovative than before.
• Balance: Europe must take a fully integrated approach to industrial policy by carefully balancing essential climate, energy and competitiveness factors.
• Innovation: growth, industrial leadership and sustainability require one key ingredient: innovation.  The EU must therefore establish and all-encompassing R&D and innovation strategy for Europe.
• Markets: the EU must ensure access to world markets and to raw materials by aiming to open export markets while maintaining effective trade defence instruments.
• Skills: manufacturing industry must foster and attract new generations of highly skilled and creative workers.

The ACEI Manifesto “Shifting Gears for a New EU Industrial Policy” [pdf 817 kB]

Vladimíra Drbalová
International Organisations and EU Affairs