Energy, Commerce and Industry Minister, Michael Damianos, pointed out the need to strengthen competitiveness as a prerequisite for a more autonomous Europe, in remarks made upon arrival at the Competitiveness Council (Internal Market and Industry).
Speaking on 26 February, Damianos noted that this is the first Competitiveness Council held under the Cyprus Presidency, stressing that the overarching vision is “an autonomous Europe through competitiveness”. He underlined that the Union must strengthen its advantages, identify and unlock new avenues for growth, and reduce its strategic dependencies.
Referring to the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF), the Minister said that more than 26 million small and medium-sized enterprises operate in Europe, employing over 90 million people, underscoring the need to support them through the Fund.
He also made particular reference to the EU’s industrial capacity, pointing out that discussions will focus on the steel, chemicals and automotive sectors, with a view to strengthening the global competitiveness of European industry. “We need to find ways to be competitive at a global level,” he added.
At the same time, he noted that Ministers will also discuss consumer protection, describing it as a particularly important issue. He stressed that there are 100 million consumers in the EU, representing more than 50% of the Union’s GDP.
(Source: CNA)
