The industry is sounding the alarm in Europe

BarcelonaEuropean industry is eager to regain competitiveness. This has been made clear to the presidents and prime ministers who will meet this Thursday in Belgium to discuss prioritizing EU industry in the face of the protectionist policies of the Donald Trump administration in the US.

One of these entities, which brings together more than 1,300 European companies, associations, and unions, the Alliance for the Competitiveness of Spanish Industry, and which includes some of the main Spanish sectoral employers' associations, from chemicals to automotive, is taking advantage of this European summit, convened to reverse the accelerated decline in Europe's industrial competitiveness compared to the US and China.

On the occasion of the first anniversary of the Antwerp Summit to boost economic competitiveness, the entities adhering to the Antwerp Declaration, including the Alliance, are calling on the European Commission and the Spanish government. This message comes at a time when a debate is taking place about whether or not it is necessary to prioritize EU industry and when the idea of ​​moving forward at two speeds has been circulating due to the lack of consensus among the 27 member states.

The Antwerp Declaration is a movement that began two years ago to demand a European Industrial Deal that complements the Green Deal and guarantees that Europe maintains its productive capacity, strategic autonomy, and quality employment. For both the Alliance and the groups adhering to the Antwerp Declaration, "European industry is going through one of the most critical periods of recent decades." They emphasize that energy and carbon costs "remain significantly higher than in other major economic blocs, which seriously affects industrial viability." They also warn that, to date, only 11% of the recommendations of theDraghi report Measures on the future of European competitiveness have been implemented. They add that, considering this level of implementation, 83% of the indicators used by the members of the Antwerp Declaration "have shown no improvement whatsoever in two years." "There is no resilient, secure, or strong Europe without a competitive industry," warns Carlos Reinoso, spokesperson for the Alliance.

"Urgent package"

This group believes that an "urgent package of industrial measures" is necessary. These measures should focus on reducing energy and carbon costs, ensuring "fair" global competition, and improving access to finance. In this regard, they advocate tackling unfair trade practices, accelerating supply agreements, opening new markets, and facilitating industrial investment in Europe. They also support boosting demand for products manufactured in Europe. The following companies are part of the Alliance: Aice (fuels), Anfac (automotive), Aspapel (paper), Feique (chemicals and pharmaceuticals), Fiab (food and beverages), Oficemen (cement), Primigea (mineral raw materials), and Sernauto (auto components). These sectors represent 60% of Spain's gross industrial product and 24% of its salaried population.

Von der Leyen has included on the agenda of the meeting at the Belgian castle of Alden Biesen the "Made in Europe" or "European preference" policy, which, in her view, is a "necessary instrument" to strengthen productive capacity, but also a "slippery slope" because it must be supported by economic analysis.

France is the main driver of the debate, but it is not the only EU member state that advocates prioritizing European industry. In any case, the idea divides the member states, with Germany, the Netherlands, the Nordic countries, and the Baltic states opposed to its widespread application.