On March 10, the Commission presented its Industrial Policy Strategy. This plan sets out a broad work programme: from the implementation of a digital industrial strategy to the revision of competition rules. This strategy plans for a strengthening of the fight against barriers to trade within the internal market, development plans for key sectors and a strengthened partnership with industry in policy making. In addition, the Commission plans to internationalise its standards, in particular through WTO negotiations. Therefore, all companies, even those that do not trade directly with the EU, are concerned by this action plan.
More concretely, the plan provides for the modernisation of the Internal Market. The Commission plans to set up a Single Market Enforcement Task Force, a review of intellectual property rules and a recasting of the competition and anti-trust rules. In addition, the Commission will, in the coming months, present its strategies sector by sector. This concerns in particular the chemical sector and the mobility sector. The Commission will build its strategies and priorities through co-decision via the Industrial Forum and by fostering public-private partnerships.
In conclusion, the internal market will be strengthened, and structuring rules will be reviewed in the coming months. In addition, sector-by-sector industrial strategies will have an impact on product design and on research and innovation through funding programmes and industrial alliances supported by public actors. As the Commission has announced that these regulations will be co-designed in consultation with industry representatives, it is crucial for industry to strengthen its presence in the European decision-making process.