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European industrial policy and competitiveness debate

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2026-11-05 21:42 UTC → 2026-11-06 13:13 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Discussions regarding the future of European industry have centered on the need for a unified industrial policy to combat deindustrialization. Pierfrancesco Maran, a Democratic Party MEP, has advocated for a common policy to complement agricultural support and accelerate progress in sectors such as artificial intelligence, defense, and the automotive industry. Maran noted that the automotive sector faces challenges from Chinese competition and emphasized the importance of “made in Europe” requirements. Following these calls, major industrial organizations including Confindustria, Germany’s BDI, and France’s MEDEF issued a joint warning titled “How to save European industry.” Presented at the Trilateral Business Forum in Berlin, these groups, alongside BusinessEurope, warned that a solid industrial base is essential for European sovereignty. They identified critical threats such as geopolitical tensions, global overcapacity, high energy costs, and strategic dependencies. The organizations recommended massive annual investments of up to 1.2 trillion euros to support decarbonization and resilience. They also urged the strengthening of commercial defense tools to combat unfair practices and called for more assertive trade policies with increased reciprocity regarding China. Further recommendations include ensuring the EU Multiannual Financial Framework protects spending for the European Competitiveness Fund and Horizon Europe, while promoting digital sovereignty through adequate infrastructure. Additionally, at the Ecomondo event in Rimini, representatives highlighted the need for a unified circular economy market to eliminate regulatory discrepancies between member states and noted that Italy must maintain leadership in the bio-LNG sector to prevent investment flight. Recent discussions have expanded on these needs, with industry leaders advocating for streamlining bureaucracy and completing the internal market based on the Enrico Letta “One Market” report.

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