Industrial policy should be high up on the agenda

Markus J. Beyrer at the Informal Competitiveness Council in Sofia

The informal meeting of the EU ministers responsible for competitiveness takes place today in Sofia under the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. An industrial strategy for Europe is among the key topics discussed.

BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer, invited to speak at the meeting, underlined: “We must put industrial policy high on the political agenda in the coming months and keep up the pace of the progress achieved in the last months. One of the key points that still needs a thorough reflexion is the long-term vision for the EU’s industry. A key objective of a revised industrial strategy must be to ensure the EU policy can steer positive change and have the tools to handle difficult challenges ahead, be it job changes due to technological development, the effects of an ageing population, or the energy transition.”

Earlier in January, BusinessEurope President Emma Marcegaglia and Director General Markus J. Beyrer sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Boyko Borissov with BusinessEurope's priorities for the Bulgarian EU Presidency. The Presidency should take full advantage of the current momentum to move forward with discussions that will sustain a strong European Union in the years ahead. Key priorities to make progress on are the Economic and Monetary Union, the next Multiannual Financial Framework and maintaining a high profile for an EU industrial strategy. The EU must also continue developing our European Single Market in line with the Leaders’ Agenda and promoting an ambitious trade policy.