The ‘Basta! Get back on track!’ campaign recently launched buy CEPI, the Confederation of European Paper Industries, calls for the EU to “put the manufacturing industry at the heart of the European economy” by reducing the burden of red tape imposed upon businesses within the EU.
The move by CEPI, which follows the release of the ‘For a European Industrial Renaissance’ communication adopted by the European Commission on 22 January 2014, seeks to demonstrate where European policy has gone wrong, as well as highlighting where EU policy has been well-implemented to support industry on a national level.
“The Basta! messages are meant for the current Commission and the next one,” says CEPI director general Teresa Presas.
“The campaign seeks to make the Industrial Renaissance more concrete.”
The Basta! (‘Enough!’) campaign is aimed at creating a legislative environment in which European manufacturers can compete on a level playing field with other manufacturers throughout the world, by placing the focus on four elements:
1. Reduce red tape
“The EU managed to create a staggering 2,314 new regulations and directives in 5 years, while producing 700 measures to reduce the amount of red tape that was created…”
2. Help win the global competitiveness race
“Europe is competing with regions that have lower taxes, lower wages and less strict legislation. The Commission must balance the playing field for European businesses…”
3. Rethink existing policies
“There is a considerable price gap between the costs for energy in Europe and those in the rest of the world. Words have to be put into practice now to create a level playing field on which European businesses can compete…”
4. Focus back on industry
“The European Commission needs to bring an industrial competitiveness dimension into EU policies at an early stage and keep in mind the importance of the value chain in manufacturing. Incentivising resource efficiency and innovation and allowing companies to choose their own methods for doing this instead of micromanaging will be more successful…”
Other industry sectors are being invited to join CEPI and several have announced their interest in supporting the campaign, which will run throughout 2014.
