CECE meets with EU Commission to discuss policy

Construction equipment body CECE has met with senior figures within the EU Commission to help safeguard the competitiveness of the European industrial base. This is intended to help create jobs and to instil new sustainable economic growth in Europe. As a result, the European manufacturing industry is requesting a far thinking industrial policy strategy and action plan at EU level.
July 3, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
CECE president Bernd Holz (left) met EU Commission vice-president Jyrki Katainen (right)

Construction equipment body 3399 CECE has met with senior figures within the EU Commission to help safeguard the competitiveness of the European industrial base. This is intended to help create jobs and to instil new sustainable economic growth in Europe. As a result, the European manufacturing industry is requesting a far thinking industrial policy strategy and action plan at EU level. Commission vice-president Jyrki Katainen in Brussels and CECE president Bernd Holz discussed how vital a coherent industrial policy could be for the future of construction equipment manufacturing in Europe. Amongst the relevant points Holz highlighted market surveillance, international trade and regulatory compliance. Vice-president Katainen confirmed the EU Commission’s willingness and commitment to support EU industrial competitiveness and looks forward to receiving further input on policy measures and initiatives. Concluding the exchange Holz said, “I really appreciate the interest and the hands-on approach of Commissioner Katainen. I confirmed to him CECE’s readiness to deliver concrete examples of burdensome regulation, as well as new initiatives that we can put in place to reach the goal of 20% of EU GDP by industry.”

It is no secret that in the 2465 European Commission the initiative is an issue of controversy. Unanimous support, however, comes from the Member States   expressed by the Competitiveness Council and endorsed by the Council Summit and from several MEPs from all political groups in the European   Parliament. CECE is contributing input to the upcoming Parliament resolution calling on the Commission to propose the industrial policy strategy, to be adopted at its next plenary session on July 5th.

CECE’s main request is to give Europe’s manufacturing industry the means to   increase the share of industry in the European GDP to 20% by 2020. The major  fields of action defined include issues like reducing the administrative burden   of complying with EU legislation, ensuring fair competition through better   market surveillance, seeking greater international policy alignment to avoid technical barriers to trade, access to finance, digitalisation and new business models or investment in skills and talents.

Finance & Funding

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Highways England: new agency with long-term investment strategies
    August 18, 2015
    Highways England, created out of the old Highways Agency, was set up on April 1 to oversee a closer relationship between government client and private contractors. World Highways went to a recent forum in London to hear both sides declare their hopes and challenges. Government reforms are often met with a certain amount of scepticism thanks to years of disillusionment over forgotten ministerial promises. Given that, highway contractors in the UK could have been forgiven if they had raised their eyes skyward
    Read More
  • Steering the way to greener road infrastructure
    February 14, 2012
    While international diplomatic negotiations on how to tackle climate change are faltering, the International Road Federation (IRF) is taking action and leading the way to meet calls for greener transport systems
    Read More
  • Insight into €7.7 billion European transport funding at TRA 2012
    March 21, 2012
    The TRA 2012 transport event, being held in April in Athens, will provide a unique interactive opportunity for attendees to learn about Horizon 2020, the European Commission proposal for a new Research & Innovation Framework Programme which comes into force in January 2014. The transport component of this programme is worth €7.7 billion and delegates to TRA 2012 will be able to take part in a series of 13 strategic sessions covering all modes and tackling the entire spectrum of activities envisaged by the F
    Read More
  • Strong equipment exports are aiding Italian construction equipment manufacturers
    May 18, 2012
    Details from the Italian construction equipment manufacturing asscoaition, UNACEA, show that domestic machine sales are still falling, while exports keep on growing. However exports are growing at a slower rate than in 2011. Over the first quarter of 2012, 1,820 construction machines were sold on the Italian market, a drop of 22.4% from the same period in 2011. These included 1,734 earthmoving machines, a fall of 22.4% compared to the first quarter of 2011, while there were 40 road machines sold, a drop of
    Read More

Highlighted Content