The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is urging the European Commission to ensure its ‘Buy European\u2019 approach creates and sustains quality jobs in Europe – in both services and manufacturing.<\/p>\n
The Industrial Accelerator Act due to be presented on 28 January by Commission Vice-President St\u00e9phane S\u00e9journ\u00e9 is expected to strengthen the preference for European industry.<\/p>\n
The test of any ‘Buy European’ policy is simple: does it expand good employment in Europe and strengthen our industrial and service sectors, or does it subsidise low standards and offshoring?<\/p>\n
Europe\u2019s competitiveness relies on the whole value chain – from factories and construction sites to logistics, maintenance, energy, cleaning, catering, IT, public-interest services and other skilled and essential work that keeps industry and communities running.<\/p>\n
Joining with IndustriAll Europe, the ETUC is calling for the Act to include binding social conditions so that public support only goes to companies that:<\/p>\n
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ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cA \u2018Buy European\u2019 policy must be about one thing above all: creating and keeping quality jobs in Europe – not only in manufacturing, but also in the services that make Europe\u2019s economy function and make industry competitive.<\/p>\n \u201cAt a time of intense global competition, it makes no sense to use public money to reward business models built on low pay, insecure work, bogus self-employment or shifting jobs out of Europe. That weakens our industrial base and undermines the services workers and companies rely on.<\/p>\n \u201cThe \u2018Buy European\u2019 policy cannot become a blank cheque. Any company receiving public support must deliver in return: good jobs in Europe, fair pay and working conditions set through collective bargaining, and serious investment in skills and training.<\/p>\n \u201cLabour shortages holding back our economy are linked to low pay and poor conditions, while failure to train workers has worsened skills gaps. Linking support to collective bargaining and training is a win-win stronger jobs, stronger services, and stronger European competitiveness.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n IndustriAll Europe General Secretary Judith Kirton-Darling said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cEurope\u2019s industrial base is at a crossroads. After decades of offshoring and cost\u2011cutting, we have watched too many of our world\u2011leading industries slip away\u2014and with them good jobs, strong communities, and our strategic autonomy. The green and digital transitions should be our chance to turn this around, but only if we choose an industrial policy anchored in fairness, sustainability, and shared prosperity.<\/p>\n \u201cLocal Content Policies are a proven way to make that happen. A genuine \u2018Made in Europe\u2019 strategy would ensure that public investment creates value here at home\u2014jobs, skills, innovation\u2014not just profits extracted elsewhere. To do this, the scope should reflect cross-European value chains, both in terms of geographical coverage (EU, EFTA, candidate countries & the UK) and sectors. Made in Europe should be a mainstream principle across all industrial policy instruments.<\/p>\n \u201cBut Made in Europe must mean more than assembling parts on European soil. It must uphold the values that define us: enforceable social standards, strong workers\u2019 rights, decent wages, and access to training. It must protect our environmental leadership by ensuring products made in Europe meet the highest sustainability criteria. And it must deliver economic fairness\u2014growth that improves people\u2019s lives, not just headline GDP.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is our moment to rebuild Europe\u2019s industrial strength on our terms. Made in Europe must mean made with quality, made with responsibility, and made with the people of Europe at its heart.\u201d<\/p>\n