Europe must make it easier and more attractive for businesses to invest, innovate and produce, while ensuring that regions play a central role in shaping industrial policy. This was the key message from EPP representatives at the external seminar of the European Committee of the Regions’ (CoR) Commission for Economic Policy (ECON), held in Valencia.
Reducing bureaucracy, ensuring competitive energy prices, strengthening SMEs and involving local and regional authorities in industrial policy were among the priorities highlighted by EPP speakers. They also stressed that Europe’s reindustrialisation must reinforce territorial cohesion, create quality jobs and build on the strengths and needs of individual regions.
The seminar, entitled “Resilience of the business ecosystem: an opportunity for reindustrialisation in Europe”, was jointly organised by the European Committee of the Regions and the Generalitat Valenciana. Discussions focused on the EU’s Industrial Accelerator Act and Clean Industrial Deal, as well as the role of regional industrial ecosystems in strengthening Europe’s competitiveness and economic resilience.
Alberto Cirio: Reindustrialisation must be rooted in Europe’s regions
Alberto Cirio (IT/EPP), President of the Piedmont Region and Chair of the CoR’s ECON Commission, emphasised that European industrial policy must reflect territorial realities and that local and regional authorities must be fully involved in its design and implementation.
“Europe’s reindustrialisation must be rooted in the strengths and needs of its regions. This requires stronger cooperation between all levels of government, businesses, workers and research institutions to boost investment, competitiveness and skills. Reindustrialisation must also strengthen territorial cohesion, create quality jobs and ensure that no region is left behind. Local and regional authorities know their territories best and must be fully involved in shaping and implementing Europe’s industrial policies,” said Cirio.
Granfalk: More industry, less bureaucracy and protectionism
Pehr Granfalk, member of Solna Municipality called for better conditions for businesses to invest and produce in Europe, highlighting the need to cut bureaucracy, accelerate permitting procedures, ensure competitive energy prices and improve access to finance for SMEs.
“Europe needs more industry – not more bureaucracy and protectionism!” he stressed.
Referring to the EU’s Industrial Accelerator Act, Granfalk welcomed the EPP position secured in the CoR opinion, limiting European-content requirements to 10%, compared with the Commission’s 25% and the European Parliament’s 40%, according to the figures he presented. “We should strengthen European industry through better competitiveness, not by shutting out the rest of the world,” he added.
Marián Cano: Industrial investment must create value in the territories
Marián Cano, Regional Minister for Industry, Tourism, Innovation and Trade of the Generalitat Valenciana, stressed that Europe’s industrial transformation must go beyond attracting investment and ensure that it delivers tangible benefits for local economies and communities.
“The great task of the coming decade is to move from an industrial policy designed around sectors towards an industrial policy that fully incorporates the territorial dimension. Europe will be more competitive if it harnesses all the experience, innovative capacity and transformative potential that exist across its territories,” said Cano.
She also highlighted the importance of investments that generate local added value and enable SMEs to access new markets and technologies, contributing to broader economic and social transformation.
Ruth Merino: Industrial resilience is essential for Europe’s competitiveness
Ruth Merino, Regional Vice-Minister for Representation to the European Union of the Region of Valencia and member of the ECON Commission, drew attention to the impact of extreme weather events on industrial production and business activity.
“The extreme weather events of recent years have demonstrated the enormous consequences they can have for a territory’s business community and productive capacity. Europe’s reindustrialisation must take this reality into account: it is not enough to promote new investment; we must also protect existing investments and strengthen their capacity to withstand future crises. Europe’s competitiveness and strategic autonomy also depend on the resilience of its territories,” said Merino.
From industrial strategy to concrete action
Throughout the seminar, participants discussed how to translate European industrial policy into practical measures supporting investment, innovation, skills and resilient supply chains.
Particular attention was given to strengthening cooperation between businesses, universities, research institutions and public authorities, connecting major industrial projects with SMEs and ensuring that the green and digital transitions benefit all territories.
The discussions also took place against the backdrop of negotiations on the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028–2034, with the Committee of the Regions opposing proposals that risk centralising funding decisions and weakening the role of regions.
The seminar was followed by a study visit to Industrias Alegre in Albal, Valencia, an automotive supplier severely affected by the October 2024 floods. The company’s recovery and return to advanced manufacturing provided a practical example of how resilience, innovation and long-term investment can support industrial renewal.