BRUSSELS (Feb. 21, 2017) — The European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers' Association (ETRMA) has joined a coalition of 92 trade associations calling on the European Commission (EC) to remain committed to plans for the "reindustrialization" of Europe.
The coalition — which represents a cross-section of the European manufacturing industry —issued its call Feb. 17 ahead of the EC's preparation of the European Union's "multi-annual financial framework."
"At the beginning of his mandate," the coalition said, "EC President Jean-Claude Juncker identified the reindustrialization of Europe as one of his top priorities and confirmed the objective of increasing the share of industry in the European GDP to 20 percent by 2020."
The group's statement went on to say that it was vital for the EU to remain "a competitive global industrial power."
"The time has come to raise the alarm about the considerable changes that we are all facing," the declaration says, noting that between 2000 and 2014, the share of manufacturing in total EU output fell three and a half points, to 15.3 percent, and that 3.5 million manufacturing jobs were lost between 2008 and 2014.
"Meanwhile, countries around the world are putting industry at the very top of their pooitical agendas," the declaration continues, noting the "Made in India" or "Made in China" manufacturing-oriented strategies of those nations and the shift in the U.S. to "America First" will "inevitably have a strong impact" on U.S. industrial policy.
In its recommendations to the EC, the coalition urged the commission to reaffirm its commitment to the target of 20 percent of EU GDP from industry within an "ambitious and realistic timeline".
Also, it called on the commission to adopt an "action plan" to tackle the challenges that EU industrial sectors are facing and to commit to implementing this in a timely manner.
The signatories, including the ETRMA, then voiced their readiness to "step up" their cooperation within European institutions to help "safeguard the world leadership of European manufacturers and jobs in Europe."
Other trade groups of note that are part of the coalition are: European Automobile Manufacturers Association; European Chemical Industry Council; European Agricultural Machinery; European Garage Equipment Association; and the European Association of Automotive Suppliers.
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This story first appeared on the website of European Rubber Journal, a London-based sister publication of Tire Business.