Manufacturing
& Industry

Manufacturing and industry are vital to the EU’s jobs and growth agenda, but face significant pressures in trying to modernise sustainably.

European energy prices, environmental and social regulation, combined with increasing competition for raw materials and some out-of-date public perceptions make manufacturing and industry a focal point of media and NGO scrutiny.

Consequently, fostering public and political support for pro-industry policies needs to be handled carefully to avoid kneejerk concerns about polluting industry and the profit motive.

The European skills gap is another issue that needs to be addressed to help foster a more rapid shift to competitive smart manufacturing.