Joint Declaration EU Chemicals Urge Commission to Implement Industry Strategy

Editor: Alexander Stark

Cefic, the EU chemical industry council, along with more than 90 other industry associations in Brussels, have signed a joint declaration to the European Commission.

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EU chemicals join 92 sectors asking Commission to fulfil promise for EU industry strategy
EU chemicals join 92 sectors asking Commission to fulfil promise for EU industry strategy
(Source: Cefic)

Brussels/Belgium — The letter calls for the Comission to reaffirm its commitment to reaching the target of 20 % of GDP from industry, adopt an action plan to tackle the challenges industrial sectors are facing in the framework of a Communication that would include concrete steps and milestones and to commit to implement this action plan in a timely manner and regularly report on progress.

Read the Joint Declaration

The industry intends to ensure a strong growth market as well as access to competitive raw materials stating that such conditions would increasingly exist outside of Europe. Marco Mensink, Cefic Director General said: “The reason for this joint action is simple — we need a plan for industry in Europe. We don’t want Europe to be in a position of having to import its chemicals from China or the US, with all the associated loss in jobs and investment. We look to the Commission to recognise our value to the EU economy and help us deliver on Industry 4.0.”

The industry association points out that other governments in other regions would do more to ensure companies have access to competitively-priced raw materials and feedstock such as China’s five-year industrial strategy as well as India’s “Made in India” campaign. Europe’s industry believe that with more emphasis on Europe’s higher value added niche products as well as innovative power, policymakers could ensure it attracts investments today that will pay off for decades to come.

This Declaration aims to follow up on a promise by the Juncker cabinet over two years ago, to deliver an overarching strategy setting out a vision for industry’s future in Europe.

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