CECE calls on EU to put industry at heart of policy-making

The Committee for European Construction Equipment (7836 CECE) has called on the EU to ensure that industry and manufacturing are at the heart of its policy-making for the next five years.

The committee, which represents the European construction equipment manufacturing industry, launched a call to action ahead of the European elections in May this year which will select the 2019-2024 legislature.

One of CECE's main requests is to appoint an EC vice-president for industry within the next mandate. It is also seeking a European Parliament inter-group on sustainable industrial competitiveness to accompany the work of the EC and gather stakeholders from across all areas and interests.

CECE says the European construction equipment industry manufactures 20% of all global equipment and is one of the key industries for the competitiveness and future economic growth of the EU. With an overall employment of 300,000 and about 1,200 companies, it contributes to all fundamental building and construction projects in the region. To keep this competitiveness, CECE says the sector needs a solid institutional setup from the EU side to champion and defend principles like fair competition, reciprocity and openness on the global stage.

CECE president Enrico Prandini said that its call to action focuses on the EU Single Market, environmental sustainability, international trade and digital transformation.

On 7 February, CECE organised a public meeting in the Belgian capital Brussels to launch its Manifesto and start raising awareness of construction equipment sector’s needs in the forthcoming European elections. Nearly 70 representatives attended from the EU institutions, CECE members, European industry associations and the press.

Philippe Citroën, director general, Association of the European Rail Industry and coordinator of the Industry4Europe coalition, told the meeting that he firmly believes that the challenges for the EU industry over the next five years will be crucial and can only be tackled with a joint effort between industry and EU institutions.

Fulvia Raffaelli, head of unit for clean technologies and products, DG GROW supported CECE’s vision of the construction value chain working together with the European Commission towards the common goal of developing the full construction sector. DG GROW is the EC Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs.

CECE secretary general Riccardo Viaggi stated that the launch of CECE’s Manifesto is only the beginning of long and important work ahead of CECE in the run up to the European elections.