6.4.2022
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 152/53
This approach does not take into account the divergent situations or the interdependencies that exist in the various ecosystems.
It can hardly do justice to the diversity of requirements in the various regions and must be supplemented by a regional political perspective.
3.3.
The European Commission is currently developing KPIs that are intended to show the success of the EU Industrial Strategy (6).
At the moment, the Commission is mainly focused on economic growth and is neglecting the goals set out in the European Green Deal, the changes that the transition to a circular economy requires, and the social dimension of the transformation process.
It is of paramount importance that the EU Industrial Strategy clearly recognises and appreciates the value of regionally available industrial skills, potential and competences.
This has to be taken properly into account.
Otherwise, too narrow of a focus on economic growth and the measures and instruments associated with it may lead to the climate targets and the opportunities associated with industrial transformation being missed, and may undermine the circular economy.
3.4.
Formulating industrial strategy and policy under these premises must take into account uncertainty and unpredictability.
Policies and divergent pathways tailored to individual situations must be flexible and need to be based on all the competences available within a region or to a region through exchanges with other regions and countries.
Openness as an important strategic resource is required to ascertain what is missing and what is required immediately.
3.5.
Industrial change for the purpose of climate protection will cause severe social problems if the goals of the Green Deal are to be achieved in the short remaining time.
Consumption of environmentally harmful resources is an issue to be addressed and investigated in order to find a socially and societally just solution.
3.6.
The circular economy contributes positively to industrial change, within regions and along supply and value chains.
Although the highest added value can be found in regions with the most advanced industries, in locations with a less knowledge-based and more energy-intensive economy, material is produced and processed that is brought into the circular economy.
Weaker regions can clearly benefit more from the circular economy and can become major players in this area.
3.7.
The focus on succeeding with industrial change at regional level clearly implies the need for strong interconnections, close collaboration and competence sharing with other regions, including across the national borders of the EU Member States.
There is a comprehensive system of interactions, which clearly includes local SMEs interacting with cross-border companies.
3.8.
Existing regional industrial competences on their own are not fully effective in the context of socio-ecological change.
However, they must and can be further developed by investing in knowledge, equipment and personnel and must and can become productive under the changed conditions.
This will serve to create new products, services, technologies and opportunities.
This, in turn, will provide for economically stable companies with attractive jobs in regions.
This is precisely the goal that the European industrial strategy needs to aim for.
3.9.
A region is widely defined by its industrial structures, its companies, its workforce, the competences of citizens, its R & D capabilities and the specific products that its companies manufacture or process.
Industrial competences show a wide range of historical particularities.
Supply and value chains have very different regional effects throughout Europe.
The global context is as important as the organisation within Europe but has different effects.
Industry 4.0 and digitalisation as well as information and communication technologies will have a significant but highly divergent impact on Europe’s industries and economies in general.
In this sense, innovation and development funds will become even more pivotal in mitigating regional differences.
3.10.
Providers enabling industrial change, including start-ups and SMEs, can be linked to their customers even from less central regions and attractive jobs can be created even in such places.
In particular, knowledge-based companies can make their contributions to value chains largely independently of their proximity to customers.
Moreover, the machinery of larger-scale factories can often be managed remotely.
(6)
See INT/935 (2021) EESC opinion on the NEW EU Industrial Strategy, (not yet published in the OJ).