Industrial policy: Waiting for Commission’s new strategy
Commissioner Bienkowska is expected to propose actions to support the EU’s industry by the beginning of the year.
Industrial policy will be “one of the main priorities” on the Latvian Presidency’s competitiveness agenda. The focus will lie on the Commission’s upcoming road map. Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska, in charge of the internal market, industry, entrepreneurship and SMEs, declared in November 2014 that, as requested by the European Council, she would “propose in early 2015 a full road map with a series of actions to support industry”.
The question is whether the executive will manage to present the text in January, as was initially announced. “The new Commission brought about new topics, such as the investment package and the focus on the digital agenda,” explains a diplomat. This might have an influence on the shape of the proposal.
If the Commission manages to respect its commitment, industry ministers will discuss the road map during the Competitiveness Council on 2-3 March, ahead of the meeting of EU heads of state and government on 19-20 March. Until then, the Latvian Presidency is in ‘wait and see’ mode. “Our work will depend on whether the road map presents substantial actions, with a view to the future,” says a diplomat.
Source: Europolitics
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