Industrial policy

18.5.2018

Question for oral answer O-000057/2018
to the Commission
Rule 128
Jerzy Buzek, on behalf of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

Parliament welcomes the Commission’s response to its joint motion for a resolution of 5 July 2017, in the form of a communication entitled ‘Investing in a smart, innovative and sustainable industry: a renewed EU Industrial Policy Strategy’ and an accompanying list of key actions. This is an important first step towards developing a future-oriented EU industrial strategy. However, in the short to medium term:

1. When will the Commission present a comprehensive EU industrial strategy, leaving no region behind, aimed at reindustrialising Europe with a focus on 2030 and beyond, including measurable medium to long-term strategic objectives and targets accompanied by an action plan with concrete measures, including budgetary measures, that are assessed annually in order to evaluate the progress and successful implementation of the strategy as a whole?

2. What measures will the Commission take to provide support for sectors and key technologies which are of crucial importance for maintaining and creating quality jobs and sustainable growth?

3. How will the Commission ensure that new and existing financing instruments and measures effectively help to combat carbon leakage, particularly in energy-intensive industries, so as to avoid further relocations and deindustrialisation in the EU?

4. Considering that the target of at least 20 % of EU GDP being generated by manufacturing industries by 2020 has not yet been reached, what measures, with a special focus on those compatible with micro-enterprises and SMEs, will be introduced? What medium-term targets is the Commission ready to commit to achieving by 2030 and what concrete measures will the Commission take to support female entrepreneurship?

5. How will the Commission address the issue of foreign-based enterprises, in particular state-owned ones, which are supported by their governments in ways that the EU single market rules prohibit for EU-based entities?

6. How will the Commission ensure that R&D in Europe contributes directly to sustainable industrial growth?

7. Will the Commission take this opportunity to present a comprehensive, long-term industrial policy framework for the cultural and creative industries, as requested by Parliament, in order to enable them to fulfil their potential in the creation of quality jobs and growth, improve their access to finance and funding, and boost their competitiveness?

8. When will the Commission provide an impact assessment of the mainstreaming of industrial policy into EU strategic initiatives taken since the beginning of 2015?