New Industrial Policy Strategy

Source: European Commission (EC) i, published on Monday, September 18 2017.

Commission unveils initiatives for a smart, innovative and sustainable industry

Following the State of the Union speech by President Jean-Claude Juncker i on 13 September, the Commission has today unveiled an Industrial Policy Strategy that aims at empowering European industries to continue delivering sustainable growth and jobs.

In his address, President Jean-Claude Juncker stated: "I want to make our industry stronger and more competitive. The new Industrial Policy Strategy we are presenting today will help our industries stay or become the world leader in innovation, digitisation and decarbonisation."

Industry is at the heart of the Juncker Commission's political priorities since the beginning of the mandate. The strong industrial focus of all of its policies has been complemented by sector-specific measures like in the case of the space, defence, automotive and steel industries, and through a strong focus on Key Enabling Technologies.

With the EU Industrial Policy Strategy, the Commission now brings together all existing and new initiatives into a comprehensive industrial strategy. It also clarifies the tasks ahead for all actors involved and sets out the fora - an annual Industry Day, the first edition of which took place in February 2017, and a High Level Industrial Roundtable - that will allow in particular industry and civil society to steer industrial policy actions in the future.

The main new elements of the EU Industrial Policy Strategy include:

  • • 
    A comprehensive package to reinforce our industry’s cybersecurity. It includes the creation of a European Cybersecurity Research and Competence Centre to support the development of technology and industrial capabilities in cybersecurity, as well as an EU-wide certification scheme for products and services, recognised in all Member States (adopted on 13 September 2017).
  • • 
    A proposal for a Regulation on the free flow of non-personal data that will enable data to circulate freely across borders, helping to modernise industry and create a truly common European data space (adopted on 13 September 2017).
  • • 
    A new series of actions on Circular Economy, including a strategy on plastics and measures to improve the production of renewable biological resources and their conversion into bio-based products and bio-energy (autumn 2017).
  • • 
    A revised list of critical raw materials where the Commission will continue to help ensure the secure, sustainable and affordable supply for the EU manufacturing industry (adopted on 13 September 2017).
  • • 
    New proposals for clean, competitive and connected mobility, including tightened CO2 emissions standards for cars and vans, an Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Action Plan to support the deployment of charging infrastructure, and actions to foster autonomous driving (autumn 2017).
  • • 
    A set of initiatives to modernise the Intellectual Property Framework, including a report on the functioning of the Directive on the enforcement of intellectual property rights and a Communication on a balanced, clear and predictable European licensing framework for Standard Essential Patents (autumn 2017).
  • • 
    An initiative to improve the functioning of public procurement in the EU, including a voluntary mechanism to provide clarity and guidance to authorities planning large infrastructure projects (autumn 2017).
  • • 
    Extension of the Skills Agenda to new key industry sectors, such as construction, steel, paper, green technologies and renewable energies, manufacturing and maritime shipping (autumn 2017).
  • • 
    A strategy on sustainable finance to better orient private capital flows to more sustainable investments (early 2018).
  • • 
    Initiatives for a balanced and progressive trade policy and a European framework for the screening of foreign direct investments that may pose a threat to security or public order (adopted on 13 September 2017).

Putting this holistic strategy into practice is a shared responsibility. Its success depends on the efforts and cooperation of the EU institutions, Member States, regions and most importantly on the active role of industry itself.

Related links

Press release

State of the Union 2017 web page

Factsheet "A holistic strategy and a strong partnership in a new industrial age"

Factsheet "Making Europe's industry stronger: Key Commission initiatives"

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