In Assolombarda headquarters in Milan, a meeting was held between the representatives of the industrialists' association and a delegation of MEPs from the area. At the centre of the debate: the key role of raw materials, the single energy market and ability to attract talent as strategic levers for the growth and competitiveness of European industry.
Alessandro Spada, President of Assolombarda, underlined how the availability and thesupply of raw materials are crucial for the digital and ecological transition of the industry. According to Spada, public and private investments are needed for a figure equal to 800 billion euros per year until 2030, necessary to guarantee internal production and reduce dependence on foreign countries. “Without raw materials, Europe will not be able to implement its ambitious transformations. Our manufacturing risks losing pace, especially considering that critical resources come largely from other regions of the world,” Spada said.
Also on the energy front, Spada insisted on the need for building a single European market that can guarantee competitive and stable prices. In a context of decarbonization, nuclear – according to the President of Assolombarda – should be considered as a strategic option, being a clean, modern and safe source. The perspective, therefore, does not stop only at renewable sources, but also embraces a technologically neutral vision, capable of promoting a balanced and sustainable energy mix.
Spada, Assolombarda: “without industry there is no Europe”
No less important was the theme of talent attractiveness. Italian and European companies, as highlighted by Spada, always face greater difficulty in finding the necessary skills to cope with technological changes and economic growth. Hence theUrgency of targeted policies that encourage training and the arrival of talent from abroad. “The innovation capacity of our companies also depends on the possibility of attracting the best talents,” Spada said. “European institutions must promote the creation of a favorable environment that encourages access to skills, through training programs and qualified migration.”
The meeting represented an opportunity for Assolombarda to present to the MEPs a clear picture of the priorities of the industrial sector, reiterating theimportance of overcoming anti-industrial ideologies in recent years. Spada urged European representatives to make a concrete commitment to promoting policies that support businesses, ensuring that industry remains at the heart of community policies.Without industry there is no Europe”, Spada stated firmly. “It is essential that our continent maintains its position as the world’s second largest manufacturing country, continuing to compete with China and the United States”.
Among the MEPs who participated were Brando Benifei, Pietro Fiocchi, Giorgio Gori, Paolo Inselvini, Pierfrancesco Maran, Letizia Moratti, Gaetano Pedullà, Massimiliano Salini, Silvia Sardone, Benedetta Scuderi, Cecilia Strada and Isabella Tovaglieri.
