"Over the last few decades the nature
and scope of EU industrial policy has changed significantly. Thanks to a desire
to boost growth and competitiveness in the member states, we have seen a
renewed effort to create ambitious and sustainable industrial policy"
introduced Michael Schneider, President of the EPP Group in the Committee of
the Regions, at the EPP seminar on industrial policy as part of OPEN DAYS:
European Week of Regions and Cities today. "Local and regional authorities
have developed much experience in the field of economic and industrial
development, which makes us vital for the implementation of this flagship of
the Europe 2020 Strategy."
Following the financial, economic and social crisis, which is still being felt throughout Europe, and the need to support industrial development in Europe's regions and cities through the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy, the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions today held a seminar on the role of regions and cities in the pursuit of an SME-friendly, innovative environment where business can thrive. Starting off the debate, Gianfranco Dell'Alba, Director, Confederation of Italian Industry (Confindustria) delegation in the European Union underlined that Italian industry believes in the EU and supports the work that has been carried out under the leadership of Antonio Tajani, European Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship. "We would like to see an enhanced industrial element in EU policy and can support all efforts made in this regard" he said. "Moreover, we are asking for more measures to boost growth."
For Peter Jungen, Honorary President of SME Union of the EPP, "the only way the European Union can get out of the crisis is through innovation." Moreover, he argued that "innovation is only possible through entrepreneurship and in particular by an increased number of entrepreneurs." Looking to the future and in regard to the Europe 2020 headline targets, he underlined "It is important for politicians and policies to encourage young people to start new businesses and to make it easier for these businesses to grow fast."
Emilia Müller, Minister for Federal and European Affairs in the Bavarian State Chancellery also noted the importance of industry to achieving economic sustainability and argued that to create such policies, "we need to invest in the trends of our time: energy, environmental technology, engineering and high tech medicines. Turning to examples from Bavaria, the State Minister explained that "through the use of networks and clusters, it is possible to ensure that ideas have the chance to develop into successful products. In Bavaria, we have benefited from a very successful cluster policy for more than five years. By working in areas where we already have expertise, for example the automotive and biotechnology industries, we have been able to create innovative, cluster platforms, which thrive on transparency and cooperation. Successful clusters, such as the cluster for biotechnology, also have an important social impact."
Marek Wozniak, Marshal of the Wielkopolska Region, and Constance Hanniffy, Member of Offaly County Council and President of the Monitoring Committee of the Border, Midland and West Regional Assembly, both spoke of the need to develop the right climate for businesses to thrive. "We need to create conditions for the proper functioning and development of business for the implementing a sustainable industrial policy in the regions" Marshal Woźniak began. "In this way, we can increase the capacity for competitiveness and stimulate structural changes in industry as well as scientific and technological development. This is where local and regional authorities can provide support for the development of regions and the whole of the EU." For her part, Constance Hanniffy said "it is a question of providing the right climate and identifying business needs. We should work to answer these needs through projects, which no not add bureaucracy or extra costs for the SME sector such as the Monitoring for Business programme."
Concluding the meeting and congratulating the Committee of the Regions for the initiative of OPEN DAYS, Markku Markkula, Member of Espoo City Council, Chairman of the EPP/CoR Task Force "Europe 2020" suggested that "we should focus on creating pioneering regions and encourage them to form European consortiums integrating the different capabilities that our regions can offer to create ground-breaking societal innovations for Europe-wide use. Through its various actors, each region can become a pioneer focusing on its own needs and strengths."
Text and photo: EPP/CoR
