Est. 1min 18-12-2002 (updated: 07-11-2012 ) Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram On 16 December the Commission presented a Communication on industrial policy in an enlarged Europe to launch a broad debate on this topic. The Communication sets out issues and points the way towards balanced, integrated solutions and concludes the industrial policy of the EU has a “key contribution” to make to the three following tasks: to set out the boundaries “within which industry and entrepreneurs can pursue their ambitions”; to ensure that the conditions are present for industry to develop and to realise its competitive potential as “European society cannot be passive in its attitude to the source of its wealth”; to ensure that the frameworks, institutions and instruments that are necessary to the business environment and for industry to be able to act in accordance with its public obligations are in place and function efficiently, in the broadest sense. Read more with Euractiv Health Policy Forum warns against downgrading healthReacting to the first draft of the Constitutional Treaty proposed by the Convention, the EU Health Policy Forum members have cautioned against reducing the status of health from a shared EU competence to a "supporting policy". Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters PositionsTheCommissionexpects this Communication to open a debate that will deliver the right policy mix to raise European industry's productivity growth and worldwide competitiveness, as prerequisites for economically, socially and environmentally balanced growth. Germanyhad complained about an earlier version of a few months ago of the lack of vision in the EU's industrial policy. TheEuropean Association of Craft, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (UEAPME)thinks that the Commission addresses the right challenges (improving competitiveness) that have to be faced by industrial sector in an enlarged Europe. However, it adds there are also shortcomings in the paper and they regard mainly SMEs, "the Communication only sees SMEs as subcontractor and member of business clusters. Their specific and autonomous role in terms of innovation, creation of employment and provision of professional services are totally ignored by this interpretation" according to a statement by UEAPME. BackgroundIndustrial policy is horizontal in nature and aims at securing framework conditions favourable to industrial competitiveness. The general principles of current industrial policy date from the Communication 'Industrial Policy in an open and competitive environment: guidelines for a community approach' of October 1990. Its instruments, which are those of enterprise policy, aim to provide the framework conditions in which entrepreneurs and business can take initiatives, exploit their ideas and build on their opportunities. Three key factors of industrial competitiveness deserve particular attention: knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurship. Most industrial policy is not carried out at the EU level, but under the competence of the Member States, the Commission invites the Member States to examine their own industrial policy in the light of the communication. The open method of co-ordination, set up by the Lisbon European Council, offers a context in which national policy performance could be discussed, developed and improved. Timeline A conference debate on industrial policy in an enlarged Europe will take place on 21 January 2003; Comments on the Communication "Industrial Policy in an Enlarged Europe" can be sent to the Commission until March 2003; The Commission intends to report, by the end of 2003, on the results it has achieved and may launch further initiatives.
