THEEuropean ceramic industry had the opportunity to meet with Brussels from 2nd to 4th December for the European Ceramic Days, an event of significant importance which this year coincided with the 30th European Parliament Ceramics Forum (Epcf). This meeting, which saw the participation of European parliamentarians from ceramic territories, addressed key issues for the future of the sector, underlining the need to address the challenges that involve the industry at a global level.
Epcf 2024: focus on Clean Industrial Deal, competitiveness and sustainable construction
On December 3, the EPcf plenary, hosted by the President Elizabeth Gualmini, MEP, saw the participation of representatives of the European Parliament, EU officials, entrepreneurs and industry leaders. The debates focused on crucial issues, including the Clean Industrial Deal, global competitiveness, EU trade and the challenge of sustainable and accessible construction.
In a rapidly changing world, marked by geopolitical dynamics between the United States, China and the EU, the first panel addressed the strengthening of European trade policies to support the manufacturing industry. Discussions were held on how to maintain and increase the competitive advantage of Europe, using not only traditional tools but also innovative approaches to respond to emerging economic and regulatory challenges.
In the second panel, we talked about the housing crisis, one of the most pressing issues in Europe. The EU has announced the first European Plan for Affordable Housing, aiming to ensure financial and regulatory solutions that improve people's living conditions, while promoting sustainable practices in construction.
La ceramic European plays a fundamental role in supporting the decarbonisation of the building stock and address the housing crisis, as well as being a strategic technology for many sectors. However, the industry is facing severe difficulties, particularly due to rising energy costs and carbon emissions. As highlighted by Alain Delcourt, president of Cerame-Unie, the ceramic industry is heavily penalised by the lack of access to decarbonised energy sources, a situation aggravated by EU regulations.
Ceramic Industry: Requests for a Tailor-Made Clean Industrial Deal
In the face of these challenges, the European ceramic industry calls for a Clean Industrial Deal specifically for energy-intensive industries, a “transition dialogue” that supports the sector with targeted measures. This meeting represents a fundamental step to create the necessary conditions for small and medium-sized enterprises, multi-plant companies and ceramic districts to continue to compete in an increasingly complex global market.
Therefore, a “transition dialogue for heterogeneous energy-intensive industries” is a key priority to enhance the competitiveness of EU ceramic companies in three key areas:
Support for ecological transition customized:
- Creation of clear and predictable legal instruments.
- Reform of the ETS to improve competitiveness, promoting decarbonisation without compromising growth in the sector.
- Targeted funding for the sector to support investments in decarbonisation.
- Support for workforce transition, with training and requalification paths.
Access to the infrastructure and raw material:
- Provide decarbonized energy at competitive prices and ensure access to the necessary infrastructure for the entire ceramic industry, with particular attention to SME plants and clusters.
- Safe and convenient access to essential raw materials for the ceramic sector.
Simplification administrative:
- Accelerated authorization procedures for mining facilities and activities.
- Reduction of administrative burdens and reporting requirements.
- Streamlined legislative processes to avoid over-regulation.
In support of these demands, the European Commission is called to include the transition dialogue in the New Clean Industrial Deal, as highlighted by Cerame-Unie. An integrated policy package is needed that promotes decarbonisation and at the same time fosters growth and sustainable industrial development. As the future President of Cerame-Unie, Heimo Scheuch, recalled, the implementation of a Clean Industrial Deal that excludes no sector must be the priority of the new European Commission, to ensure that even the most vulnerable industries can continue to thrive.
