Spain is committed to a new European pact for industry that guarantees fair competition with third countries

The Minister for Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, attends the Competitiveness Council in Brussels

During his speech, the minister called for a new European pact for industry that guarantees fair competition with third countries. "Industry needs a fair competitive environment, where products manufactured under strict environmental regulations are not disadvantaged compared to those imported from countries with less stringent requirements", he said.

He also defended the reduction of energy costs as a key element for European companies. And he has outlined the need to reduce and simplify existing regulation in the European Union, as the regulatory framework is creating barriers and uncertainties for industrial investment.

The Spanish minister called for the mobilisation of financial resources to enable the development of industrial and technological capacities in the European Union. He asked the EU to maintain its investment effort beyond 2026, the end date for the Recovery Plans. To this end, he sees the need for the creation of an EU financial instrument and the implementation of specific state aid instruments to finance European public goods.

Hereu has defended an action plan for the automobile sector with simplified and coherent regulations that realistically propose the automobile of the future. The minister also stressed the importance of promoting pragmatic decarbonisation, facilitating a transition that not only imposes requirements, but also allows for adaptation with improvements for industry.

In short, the minister for industry considered that the Letta and Draghi reports should be the basis for the work of the new European Commission and shared Spain's commitment to actively collaborating to help define a European industrial agenda that will contribute to making Europe stronger, more integrated and more competitive.

Non official translation