In the own-initiative opinion adopted on 10 February 2010 by the Committee of the Regions local and regional authorities sound the alarm: the automotive crisis is far from over and has important social consequences on territories as thousands of jobs are at stake. Measures must be found and implemented at the European level through a European “New Deal” for the automotive sector.

Jean-Yves Le Drian President of the Regional Council of the Brittany Region (FR/PES) and rapporteur on this opinion made it clear: “I believe it is vital to stimulate a European-level dialogue between key players of the automotive sector and territories affected by restructuring in order to find common and constructive solutions to assist employees affected by the crisis.”
This own-initiative opinion is a major step of the Automotive Crisis Intergroup launched in April 2009. The Intergroup is chaired by Jean-Yves Le Drian and now gathers more than fifty regions from all over Europe.

Next step for the Automotive Crisis Intergroup is to ensure that the European Commission European Parliament and Member States hear messages from the Committee of the Regions and European-level dialogue is finally established.

Summary of the own-iniative opnion

The Committee of the Regions:

  • pointed out that the industry is suffering a serious crisis that looks likely to worsen in the coming months and that will have repercussions for the entire European economy
  • called for a “New Deal” for the European automotive sector in its entirety
  • called on the European Commission to frame a long-term industrial policy for the automotive sector structured around existing initiatives building in the regional dimension and contributing to the European objectives of competitiveness territorial cohesion sustainable development and the fight against climate change
  • also hoped that the CARS 21 High Level Group will be retained so that it can begin work early in 2010 on a concerted long-term response to the challenges faced by the automotive sector. Local and regional authorities should be represented here and all voices must be heard
  • stressed that companies and employees in the automotive sector are facing growing needs in terms of training internal and external restructuring and social innovation
  • stressed the new technological challenges faced by the automotive sector. New sustainable transport options are needed

Reference

Own-initiative opinion of the Committee of the Regions: “Coordinated and sustainable responses to meet the challenges facing the European automotive sector and to strengthen its links to the Regions” adopted on 10 February 2010

Contact

Secretariat of the Automotive Crisis Intergroup

About the Automotive Crisis Intergroup

English.pdf (171.5 KB)
French.pdf (206 KB)

Link to original Article

http://www.ertico.com/committee-of-the-regions-opinion-on-the-automotive-sector/

Original Publication Date: Tue 27 Jul 2010