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Parliamentary question - P-011268/2012Parliamentary question
P-011268/2012

Industrial policy in Europe

Question for written answer P-011268-12
to the Commission
Rule 117
Jacky Hénin (GUE/NGL)

The industrial sector is essential for the European Union’s economic and social development. It is therefore in the public interest to defend our industrial heritage.

Countless jobs have been lost in manufacturing industry and our production capacities have been slashed; a process that has only been exacerbated by the financial crisis that has ravaged Europe since 2007. There are now 11 % fewer manufacturing jobs in Europe than in 2008.

Manufacturing is, however, a flagship sector of the European economy, which is responsible for 70 % of EU exports and attracts 70% of spending on research and development.

France’s steel industry was recently dealt a severe blow with the threatened closure of the factory in Florange owned by the Arcelor-Mittal consortium, Europe’s leading steel producer.

In numerous recent papers on the manufacturing sector and the Europe 2020 strategy, the Commission has stated its aim of increasing manufacturing’s share of European GDP from 16 to 20 %. It has, however, failed to change its economic and political strategy, which is based on an increasingly competitive market.

Since it is becoming ever more painfully evident that this strategy is unable to safeguard manufacturing employment in Europe, can the Commission say what measures it intends to take to protect and promote manufacturing in Europe? Does it intend to review its solely market-based industrial policy?

OJ C 321 E, 07/11/2013