EU, act against decline. Bear: synergy with Paris for cars and steel

Act immediately to slow the EU’s decline and regain competitiveness. “Italy and France must work together to bring Europe back to the center of the great global production chains, creating the conditions for true strategic autonomy that strengthens our key sectors. The automotive sector and steel are at the heart of European industry, but determined action is needed to protect and relaunch them, while guaranteeing sustainability and competitiveness”, says Business Minister, Adolfo Urso, who met with French Industry Minister, Marc Ferracci, in Paris, in second day of the economic forum trilateral agreement between France, Italy and Germany. At the center of the meeting “the need to urgently relaunch the automotive industry and review European rules on the steel industry, through joint initiatives between Rome and Paris”, explains a note.

The ministers agreed “on the urgency of a global and shared plan for the relaunch of the European automotive sector, a key sector that is currently facing a deep production and employment crisis”. Among the priorities identified, the need to “implement initiatives to stimulate domestic demand and support the entire component supply chain”. Rome and Paris “will consolidate synergies through a bilateral technical table for the development of a series of joint initiatives”.

With regard to the steel industry, Urso and Ferracci agreed on the importance of reviewing the cbam rules (carbon border adjustment mechanism), whose current system risks compromising the competitiveness of the European industry. Both ministers reiterated the need for a sustainable transition that does not compromise strategic production and that places employment and the strengthening of industrial supply chains at the center, also with a view to the continent’s strategic autonomy.

During the day, on the sidelines of the trilateral economic forum between France, Italy and Germany, Urso also held a bilateral discussion, together with the president of Confindustria, Emanuele Orsini, with the French Minister of Economy, Antoine Armand, and with the president of Medef , Patrick Martin, in which it became clear how the positions of companies in both countries correspond to the industrial policy that Italy intends to implement in Europe also with the ‘non-papers’ on automobiles and energy-intensive industries, steel industry and chemistry. Armand and Urso also highlighted the importance of President Barnier choosing to come to Italy to meet with President Meloni as his first mission abroad, also sharing the opportunity to strengthen cooperation to grow “European champions”.

“Europe, time is up. It’s not just green agreements, it’s time for competitiveness, our future and that of the entire European industry is at stake”, comments the president of Confindustria, Emanuele Orsini, who participated in the Confindustrie forum in Paris . “I am happy with the great understanding I saw here in Paris with our colleagues from Medef and Bdi and with the European authorities, Roberta Metsola in the lead, because it is with a common and cohesive front that we will win”, he explains. on social media. During the meeting, a document was signed that “is based on 4 clear and concrete action points, which we ask European legislators to urgently focus on next year”. At the top of the list is adopting “a technology-neutral approach to all initiatives within one year.” It is then necessary to “review all relevant regulations to reduce bureaucratic and compliance costs”. And it is necessary to “increase investments in R&D to 3% of GDP within a year, to accelerate innovation”. Finally, we need to “unlock the 800 billion euros identified in the Draghi report within a year, in order to facilitate European investments”. Confindustria, guarantees Orsini, “is and will be on the front line and, as you can see, we will not be alone”.