The Commission's Strategy reacts to the diagnosis we have already established together. European industry faces technological and climatic changes, in the context of a highly globalized world. The only way our industry can compete is by uniting our national strengths. The COVID-19 crisis reminds us of the urgent need to reduce our dependence on non-European suppliers. Our sovereignty is at stake.
While companies must take advantage of the opportunities presented by technological and climatic changes, the European Union and its member states can configure the appropriate political environment for companies to innovate. Therefore, we welcome the new European Industrial Strategy that establishes the way in which Europe will strengthen the competitiveness of its industry and dominate the ongoing industrial transition.
In line with the Commission's strategy, we advocate accelerating the decarbonization of European industry through the European Green Deal:
- Finance green projects, even with the support of the European Investment Bank (EIB), and focus on green technologies and solutions to decarbonize the industry, as steps in the right direction, which must be accompanied by adequate resources in the multiannual financial framework.
- Work on a border carbon adjustment mechanism compatible with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and encourage additional actions to protect our industry from carbon leakage.
- Adapt the European framework for state aid in the field of energy and the environment and improve the single market for products and services, products of the circular economy and greener public procurement.
We fully support the development of European industrial ecosystems presented by the European Commission. We welcome the Commission's commitment to dedicate more European funds to strategic value chains, key technologies and relevant innovations. SMEs should participate fully in these ecosystems and we are prepared to contribute to the reflection on how to promote their role.
We want to focus on strategic value chains, through Important European Common Interest Projects (IPCEI), such as those already launched with electric or microelectronic batteries, or other instruments, in other important European projects in the area of health, climate or digital technology, which will be key to guaranteeing our technological sovereignty, for example, for hydrogen energy or artificial intelligence.
We welcome the Commission's commitments to restore equal conditions with third-country companies, ensuring fair competition worldwide and in the internal market. We welcome the Commission's intention to adapt competition and the state aid framework to new technological development and the global market.
We believe that the deepening of the single market is a key factor in strengthening our competitiveness, especially for SMEs. Therefore, we welcome the Commission's long-term action plan for better implementation and application of the single market rules. We support the Commission's strategic approach to business data and the digitalization of the economy.
We are ready to work together with the Commission to implement this Common Strategy. To that end, the Competitiveness Council, which brings together industry ministers, must ensure that the strategy is rapidly implemented and promote large-scale initiatives in coordination with other European Union policies.
