Industrial strategy

Key points

The EESC recognises the crucial importance of shifting to a carbon-neutral economy and of reversing the current curve of biodiversity collapse. Without a green industrial strategy as a cornerstone of the Green Deal, the EU will never succeed in reaching a carbon-neutral economy within one generation.

The new industrial strategy must ensure the right balance between supporting European businesses, respecting our 2050 climate neutrality objective and providing consumers with incentives to shift consumption to sustainable goods and services.

The circular economy is key for developing Europe's future economic model. It must explore viable and economic alternatives to fossil fuel and give weight to decentralised and cooperative  clean energy solutions.

The industrial policy must go hand in hand with a firm trade and foreign policy that in turn must develop strategies to secure access to raw materials.

Europe's industry will be digitalised or it will cease to exist. Investment in ICT sectors such as the data economy, the Internet of Things, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing must reach all regions and Member States.

The EESC signals that the only possibility for Member States to overcome this crisis is by acting in a coordinated manner, leaving no one behind and restoring the capacity of companies to generate  added value, to invest in a sustainable future and to maintain/create quality jobs. 

SMEs will probably be the hardest hit by this crisis. The EESC endorses the intention to help SMEs scale up, develop new business models and attract a qualified workforce, for example through the introduction of stock options for employees.

For more information please contact the INT Section Secretariat.