Spain considers it necessary to specify Community instruments to further boost industrial competitiveness

The Minister for Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, upon his arrival at the EU Competitiveness Council in Brussels

The Minister for Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, considers it necessary to specify the instruments at EU level to continue promoting industrial competitiveness in the European Union, as he stressed at the meeting of the Competitiveness Council held in Brussels.

The meeting addressed the drive to boost industrial competitiveness, especially as regards traditional industries such as automotive, chemicals, machinery and capital goods, steel and other energy-intensive industries.

In this regard, Jordi Hereu pointed out that European policies are needed to support specific investments in clean technologies, capacities, infrastructures and energy self-generation projects.

"We must continue to coordinate and specify at European level new investment support instruments that help our industry to continue incorporating new technologies for decarbonisation, that support innovation and, at the same time, broaden our productive base", he said.

The Commission's Clean Industrial Deal includes measures to boost competitiveness and decarbonisation in Europe, and the Government of Spain hopes for short- and long-term solutions that provide the right conditions for industry to invest.

Energy interconnection

The Minister for Industry and Tourism also added that a competitive energy price and guaranteed energy supply are needed. In this regard, Hereu stressed the need to move towards a true single energy market and once again called for compliance with the target for interconnection between the Peninsula and the rest of the EU through France, moving from what should be a 10% interconnection ratio by 2020, as a preliminary step, to 15% by 2030, as outlined in the EU's own regulations, which are based on a 2014 Council agreement. This ratio currently stands at just under 3%.

The minister also advocated for clear, predictable and stable regulation that favours business investment. And to have trade defence instruments adapted to the new international context.

"Ultimately, we need effective measures to stimulate investment, with funding, support and guarantees beyond the Next Generation Funds, so that we can continue to transform and expand our industry. So that we can launch a real support programme under the concept of strategic autonomy, with harmonised measures at European level and Community resources that allow Member States to act on a level playing field", concluded the Minister for Industry.

Non official translation