European Commission Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné, who is responsible for the EU’s industrial policy, published an opinion piece supporting the “Made in Europe” initiative, signed by more than 1,000 executives from EU-based companies. The article was published simultaneously in France’s Les Echos, Germany’s Handelsblatt, Spain’s El Mundo, and Italy’s Corriere della Sera.
In his column, Séjourné stressed that European countries should prioritize European companies in public procurement in order to protect their industries. “In our most strategic sectors, we must make a genuine European preference permanent. Without an ambitious, effective, and pragmatic industrial policy, the European economy will become nothing more than a playground for its competitors,” he said.
Pointing to the growing prevalence of tariffs, subsidies, export restrictions, and intellectual property violations in global trade, Séjourné warned that international competition is becoming increasingly unfair and argued that the EU must adopt a more proactive stance.
Recalling that major economies—particularly the United States and China—have similar programs supporting their strategic sectors, Séjourné noted that it is inevitable for the EU to adopt a comparable approach.
Emphasizing that the core principle of the “Made in Europe” strategy is clear, Séjourné stated: “Wherever public money is spent in Europe, it must contribute to European production and employment.”
The European Commission is expected to unveil its proposed “Industrial Accelerator Act” by the end of February, aimed at supporting European industry. The proposal is expected to include provisions introducing a “Made in Europe” requirement in public procurement.
While France is leading the initiative, several EU member states argue that local-content requirements could deter investment, increase costs in public tenders, and weaken the bloc’s global competitiveness.
Meanwhile, Türkiye maintains that factors such as the Customs Union, the existing level of economic integration, and regulatory alignment should be taken into account, and that Türkiye should be considered within the scope of the “Made in Europe” concept.
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