EU industrial policy strategy: Council adopts conclusions

From left to right: Ms Margarete SCHRAMBOCK, Austrian Federal Minister for Digital, Business and Enterprise; Ms Mariya GABRIEL i, European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society.

Photo: European Union

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

RECALLING the Council conclusions from May^[1] and November 2017^[2], as well as the European Council Conclusions from June 2017^[3], which all emphasised the need for developing a comprehensive and long-term EU i industrial strategy,

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  UNDERLINES the importance of strengthening the industrial base as a key component of Europe's future, keeping in mind that European industry continues to be a major driver for productivity, growth, innovation and employment and a cornerstone of economic prosperity in Europe; CONSIDERS in this regard the Commission's communication from 2017 on "A renewed EU Industrial Policy Strategy" ^[4] as an important signal and a useful first step towards developing a future-oriented EU industrial strategy;
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  REITERATES that a fully functioning internal market in the digital age is a fundamental pillar for strengthening industrial competitiveness and HIGHLIGHTS the importance of enforcement and implementation of the internal market rules in that context; BELIEVES that, in order to face the challenges and use the opportunities that are emerging, industry needs a clear, predictable and non-discriminatory regulatory environment in order to make future-oriented investments; in this context RECALLS the importance of business-related services and UNDERLINES the need to remove remaining unjustified or disproportionate barriers; therefore STRESSES that a structured and comprehensive long-term strategic approach is necessary;

Read the full text of the Council conclusions here.

Visit the meeting page on the website of the Council of the European Union.