26 September, 2011
The European Mine, Chemicals, Energy Federation (EMCEF), the European Chemical Employers’ Group (ECEG), and the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) signed on 6 September a declaration to jointly encourage policymakers to implement the recommendations by the High Level Group on the Competitiveness of the European Chemical Industry.
The agreement was signed at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels with Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Commissioner László Andor participating.
The three-pillared blueprint, entitled “Framework conditions for a sustainable chemical industry in Europe,” centers on positive environmental, economic, and social principles. Under the environmental principal, the three social partners share the view that the voluntary Responsible Care programme offers the best possibilities to make continual improvements in safety, health and the environment.
Bottom, Cefic President Giorgio Squinzi and Commissioner László Andor; top, ECEG’s Jean Pelin, EMCEF’s Michael Wolters and representative from German chemical employers’ grouping, BAVC
The social component specifies good working conditions, life-long learning, and improving employability through skill development, retention and re-employment. The social partners also emphasize opportunities here for young people, and they say this social framework serves so far as the main contribution to the Agenda for New Skills and Jobs under the Euro 2020 strategy.
The economic pillar is built around competitiveness and innovation, and striving to maintain Europe’s strong position in global chemicals. The declaration states that the High Level Group’s recommendations do “form a strategic agenda for areas such as innovation, intellectual property, regulation, energy and climate change, logistics and trade policy.”
EMCEF General Secretary Michael Wolters said the declaration “highlights the urgent need to see sustainability as a way to safeguard and expand high-skilled, high value-added jobs in Europe through a comprehensive EU industrial policy.”