Coordinate and implement the EU Recovery Plan quickly

• German and French electrical industry demand courageous investments in future technologies
• Focus on the Green Deal and digitisation

FIEEC and ZVEI consider the proposals of the EU Commission for an EU Recovery Package to be positive. A sustainable industrial strategy is now crucial in order to get back on track quickly and regain economic strength. However, the two associations of the French and German electrical and electronic industry demand that the plan is implemented quickly.

The focus of the recovery should be on ambitious investments in future technologies. "The Green Deal is the right approach for this," says Wolfgang Weber, Chairman of the ZVEI Management Board. "There is a great need for investment in all climate-relevant sectors, but especially in mobility and buildings". In terms of industrial policy, the Green Deal also has great potential as a future export strategy for Europe - green technology "made in Europe" - and can thus become a model for a sustainable economy outside Europe as well.

Furthermore, digitisation and the development of a European digital single market must be accelerated in order to create a strong and competitive European data economy. The electrical and electronics industry enables European ecosystems and provides solutions across all sectors – including fiber optics, the use of 5G technology especially for industrial production and the expansion of the electromobility infrastructure and the European power grids.

Strategic Value chains remain key instruments to accompany the development of our industries in Europe and market surveillance should be strengthened in order to fight against non-compliant and counterfeited products thus ensuring consumer safety and a level playing field between all actors. 

Benoît Lavigne, FIEEC General Delegate: The period that we are going through, far from shaking the determination of our companies, strengthens our belief that deep ongoing societal changes have to be accompanied. Remote work, transformation of manufacturing tools and buildings, ageing population care… The past months have shown that we need to accelerate - with the strong cooperation and support of European institutions - the construction of robust digital and energy infrastructures enabling the life of citizens, companies and administration to be better.”

Wolfgang Weber: "Only if the green and digital transformation are successfully brought together, we can secure Europe as an attractive site for innovation and investments in the future and create sustainable growth."