Skip to main content

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.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • European equipment sales up 15% in 2017, according to the CECE
    June 15, 2018
    European construction sales grew by 15% in 2017, according to the Annual Economic Report 2018* from the CECE After a strong first quarter, growth slowed in Q2, before rising in Q3 and Q4, according to the CECE - Committee for European Construction Equipment. Current levels of sales are on par with the levels seen in 2006 and 2008, but the industry is still 20% below the 2007 peak.
  • Programme planned for Paris pavement preservation summit
    February 12, 2014
    Plans are now in hand for the AEMA-ARRA-ISSA-PPRA-IBEF-FP2 Pavement Preservation World Summit. This will be held from February 22nd – 25th 2015 at the Palais des Congrès Convention Center in the French capital, Paris. The website for the event is also in place: pprsparis2015.com and gives details of the programme. According to the organisers, the PPRS Paris 2015 event will provide a discussion focus for shared projects and ambitions. It follows the PPRA’s decision to organise an annual meeting in Paris in 2
  • EU construction machinery sector needs resolve as Brexit looms
    February 14, 2019
    German construction machinery manufacturers are concerned about a no-deal Brexit – UK exiting the European Union - and the possible disintegration of the EU. Rising global economic challenges can be mastered only with a strong, united Europe, according to the VDMA - Construction Equipment and Building Material Machinery Association. VDMA represents more than 3,200 mostly medium-sized companies in Germany’s mechanical and plant engineering sector. This was the view by attendees at the VDMA’s constructi
  • Construction future for CEA
    July 18, 2012
    The UK’s Construction Equipment Association plays a key role in Europe - Mike Woof writes The UK’s Construction Equipment Association (CEA) is playing an important role within Europe, for manufacturers, customers and also for the wider benefit of industry as a whole. One important project where the CEA is closely involved with other sister organisations within the pan-European organisation CECE is with the rationalisation of machine regulations. Requirements were supposed to have been harmonised in 1992, an