Manufacturing Matters - manifesto

19/11/2009

The Competitiveness Council of 28 May 2009 recognised in its conclusions, the key role that manufacturing industry plays as a driver of Europe’s economy, both through the direct jobs that companies provide and indirectly throughout their supply chains, including not least the services industry.

The Council highlighted the central role that the manufacturing industry, including the mechanical, electrical and electronic industries, will play in Europe. These are the industries which are key to providing Europe with the technological solutions to the challenges of climate change, energy security and green manufacturing while underpinning economic growth and the development of skilled employment. The Council then stressed:

• The need for the EU to “to continue to react promptly to the present economic recession with a coherent and coordinated set of short-, medium- and long-term initiatives ensuring the competitiveness of the European economy as a whole in a sustainable way
• That achieving a knowledge-based, safe and sustainable low-carbon and resource-efficient economy should be a guiding principle for European industrial policy.
• That maintaining a competitive and strong industrial base in Europe requires favourable, stable and predictable framework conditions promoting excellence, innovation and sustainability, conditions in which businesses can operate and invest.
• That the maximum benefits to the economy would be reached if the initiatives undertaken are in line with the medium- and long term objectives of the Lisbon Strategy; stressed that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the European economy; the importance of SMEs should be respected and considered when setting up framework conditions for European industry by really applying the “ "Think Small First" principle which has been proposed and accepted in the “Small Business Act”.

The Council also encouraged the Commission, the European Parliament and member states to speed up work aimed at simplifying legislation and reducing administrative burdens for industry and businesses.

In this document, Orgalime builds on the proposals of the European institutions to provide a coherent industrial policy vision for our industry in the short medium and long term in the perspective of the new European Commission and European Parliament, so as to underpin the policy options determined by the European institutions.

Adviser responsible : Adrian Harris