The European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) welcomes the European Commission communication released today on a comprehensive and integrated European industrial policy. Cefic especially welcomes that the communication placed industry at centre stage to keep Europe economically competitive.

The chemicals sector in Europe particularly appreciates the emphasis on five of the ten proposed key actions for European competitiveness, namely: smarter new legislation through explicit and thorough "competitiveness proofing"; "fitness checks" of existing legislation; more robust innovation; and creating and growing small- and medium-sized companies. The chemicals industry especially appreciates that implementation of such actions provides much needed support in the wake of the great challenges to its competitiveness, especially its rapid loss of global market share during the last 10 years.

As a high tech and valuable part of the value chain process, the chemical industry urges policymakers to implement the initiative as soon as possible. Implementation should take into account the need for a level playing field in a rapidly changing global marketplace, a more efficient internal market, better skills for future chemicals sector workers, and greater coordination between the public and private sectors.

An effective and measurable set of results from this initiative could greatly help growth and employment prospects in the European chemical industry.

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For more information, please contact James Pieper on +32 (0)2 676 7398 or via email at jpi@cefic.be