European Commission vice president, Antonio Tajani, claims he has secured union backing for the CARS 21 automotive initiative outlined last week in Brussels.
The high-level meeting – attended by CEO’s of automakers, senior politicians and European automotive supplier body CLEPA – among others – pledged to reinforce European Investment Bank lending to industry, support market access through trade negotiations and work on regulatory convergence to achieve global car type approval.
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However, with widespread restructuring thought to be imminent across Western Europe as the economic downturn continues to squeeze margins, the Commission vice president’s remarks will have caught the eyes of anxious automakers keen to placate nervous workforces worried about over-capacity cuts.
“Unions work very well with us and unions approved the final text of CARS 21,” [‘competitive automotive regulatory system]. Tajani told just-auto. “They want to work with us in favour of this action plan for the automotive sector.”
Stressing the vehicle manufacturing industry was a “key area for me of course,” Tajani added he had banged the drum for the automotive sector to Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, as well as stressing the need for better regulation, particularly with SMEs.
“This regulation is very important,” he said. “In my sector, it is crucial to work in favour of new rules, smart rules, without [a] strong burden for companies and SMEs.
“[It] is very important for us to work in favour of internationalisation and against delocalisation.”
Tajani’s reference to SMEs will find a willing partner in CLEPA, which has asked the European Investment Bank to ensure access to companies further down the supply chain, while also simplifying lending procedures.
“Access to finance is one of the basic conditions for SMEs to develop their business and innovation,” said CLEPA vice president and Dytech Group CEO, Guiliano Zucco.
“This is particularly critical at times of restructuring.”
