Industrial competitiveness policy for the European chemical industry: a model

Parliament adopted the report by Mr Werner LANGEN (EPP, D) on an industrial competitiveness policy for the European chemical industry. Concerned at the loss of competitiveness in this sector and by the growing trend for these undertakings to move their production to third countries, Parliament called for everything possible to be done to maintain the maximum amount of jobs in Europe and that at the least R&D activities should remain in the Union, in particular as a result of increased training and a strengthening of links between undertakings and universities. Parliament called on the Commission to: - submit a proposal aimed at reducing the excessive rules and regulations on innovation in the chemical industry and achieving a minimum level of legislation throughout the EU; - submit, for any proposal for a directive or regulation, an assessment of the impact of the legislation and a cost-benefit analysis, for companies and society, of the use of the best technology available; - conclude multinational investment protection agreements, in particular with developing and newly industrializing countries; - promote as a matter of urgency the infrastructure measures required in the basic chemicals sector to extend the network of pipelines used to transport raw materials and intermediates; - promote R&D activities in SMEs and their access to risk capital in the chemical industry and to submit a specific programme giving priority to environmental innovation. Parliament also called for greater involvement of the chemical industry in the work of the task forces and insisted that the chemical industry should apply the same high standards world wide in the safety and environmental compatibility of its products and production processes. Lastly, the Commission was asked to submit to Parliament an annual report on the coordination of industrial policy with other policies, in particular policy on competition, the internal market and trade. �