Groups call on EU support for industry
EUROPE: EPEE and Eurovent, two of the main associations representing European HVACR manufacturers, have joined with over 120 other associations calling for an ambitious EU industrial strategy.
With Europe seeing a decline in manufacturing, the associations are calling on the European Commission to commit to tackle the challenges that the industrial sectors are facing.
Between 2000 and 2014, the share of manufacturing in total EU output fell from 18.8% to 15.3%, while 3.5 million manufacturing jobs were lost between 2008 and 2014. Meanwhile, countries around the world are putting industry at the top of their political agendas. The associations point to India’s Make in India strategy to ensure India is “the next manufacturing destination” and China’s Made in China 2025 programme to turn China into the “leading manufacturing power”. There are also concerns that the recent US shift towards America First will inevitably have a strong impact on their industrial policy.
The signatories to the declaration point out that European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker had identified the reindustrialisation of Europe as one of his top priorities and and pledged to increase the share of industry in the European GDP to 20% by 2020.
“As we approach the preparation of the next Multiannual Financial Framework, it is vital for the European Commission to act and help the EU remain a competitive global industrial power playing in a fairer world market,” the declaration says.
“The European manufacturing industry has tremendous capacity for research and innovation, boasts a skilled workforce and has earned a global reputation for quality and sustainability. What it now needs is the swift and determined support of the European institutions and the member states to create more jobs and growth in Europe.”
It calls on the European Commission to reaffirm its commitment to reaching the target of 20% of GDP from industry, with an ambitious and realistic timeline; adopt an Action Plan to tackle the challenges that the industrial sectors are facing.
