Addressing the meeting of the European employees organization BUSINESSEUROPE held in Athens, Mer. Hatzidakis noted that during the Greek six-month EU presidency no miracles can be expected but the foundations for an industry-oriented European policy can be laid.

This policy will include:
– Improving the business environment, removing barriers for businesses.
– Improving access to liquidity by using sophisticated financial instruments in cooperation with the European Investment Bank
– Promoting innovation and the digital economy
– Focusing on the knowledge economy and new skills
– Enhancing the internal market

“During the last few years, we made the mistake of ignoring industry and now we are paying the price for it,” he mentioned. “I can recall only a few debates in the European Parliament on industry during a period of 13 years. Since 2008, 4 million jobs were lost in the industry sector while its contribution to the European GDP fell by 3 percentage points,” he added.

He also underlined the need for a comprehensive – across the board- addressing of industry issues on a European Commission level, as there are contradictions which cannot continue, as well as the need to tackle bureaucracy and overregulation.

BUSINESSEUROPE head Emma Marcegaglia referred to the significant progress achieved so far during the Greek presidency on industry and competitiveness issues and expressed the hope that the new European Parliament and Commission after the elections will give more emphasis to competitiveness and the creation of jobs.

Industry policy will also dominate the informal meeting of Competitiveness Ministers, to be held on Monday in Athens.