Europe needs its own industrial commissioner and policy, says CECE

First published at bauma - April 11, 2019

The industry must make its voice heard, said Riccardo Viaggi, secretary general of the CECE

Europe urgently needs an industrial policy and a commissioner for industry as global markets become increasingly interconnected and competitive, said the Committee for European Construction Equipment (CECE). To help achieve this, the organisation is launching a manifesto to make industry a priority for the European Commission in the coming 2019-2024 legislative session.

“We have started a campaign to promote our industry’s interests ahead of the European elections in May,” said Riccardo Viaggi, secretary general of the CECE. Other major markets, including China, India and the US have industrial policies that support their local manufacturers as well as promoting national infrastructure projects. Although individual EU countries have policies, these lack coordination and clout when faced with international competition. “It is time for Europe to have a single policy and this should be a top five priority for the EU’s political programme,” said Viaggi.

The CECE’s manifesto identifies four areas of focus for the EU: further development of the internal market; support for environmental sustainability; championing international free trade; and promoting the digitalisation of the construction industry. The CECE calls for incentives for construction companies to renew equipment fleets with modern lower emissions machines. It recommends the de-escalation of tensions around tariffs and caution in the applying retaliatory measures, for example with US steel tariffs. It also urges the EU to prioritise construction in its Digital Europe Programme.

“Now is a key moment for the construction equipment industry to make its voice heard,” said Viaggi.