An industrial competitiveness policy for the European Union

The Committee of the Regions called on the Commission to prepare an operational implementation programme that considered industrial competitiveness within the context of the sustainable development model proposed in the White Paper on Growth, Competitiveness and Employment. It pointed out that this was all the more necessary since companies - especially SMEs - were particularly involved in regional and local affairs. Regional and local authorities were especially interested in this policy as it was a key element in the successful long-term development of local and regional economies.