German rubber industry welcomes ‘Berlin Declaration’ on industrial policy

Frankfurt – The German rubber industry has welcomed the “Berlin Declaration” issued by 17 EU economy ministers 3 Nov, saying it sends an 'overdue signal of political support' for industrial production and value creation in Europe.

“This is a strong signal for securing industrial production and thus also many upstream and downstream jobs in Germany,” said Boris Engelhardt, chief executive of the German Rubber Industry Association (WDK), on 4 Nov.

The declaration, presented under the heading “Friends of Industry”, recognises the importance of manufacturing across the EU.

Engelhardt noted that rubber and elastomer producers had long called for political appreciation of domestic value chains.

“The fact that the Draghi report published a year ago is now being taken seriously after all is optimistic,” he said.

Noting that the initiative had come from member states directly, Engelhardt said “the fact that the impetus for this comes from 17 member states and not from the EU Commission speaks for itself”

For the rubber sector, Engelhardt said the declaration will help reduce bureaucracy.

“Now it is important that the declaration is not only noted by the Commission, but actually implemented.”

The Berlin Declaration was jointly signed by Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain.