December 2020

NEWSLETTER

December 2020

Dear all,

As this crazy year rushes to a close, first of all, thank you: to our staff for your incredible hard work, good spirits and resilience during these tough times; and to our members and partners for your valued support and exceptional commitment at a time when the industry has been hard hit. Looking back on the year now, I can say that Orgalim has never been so productive. Our whole network pulled together to respond to an unprecedented crisis that came on top of an already very ambitious EU policy agenda. Not to mention the uncertainty around Brexit. Among many other things, we just ran our last event of the year – on industrial AI – in our very successful roundtable series Industrial Strategy in Focus. Over the course of the year we published 51 position papers, up from 34 in 2019, representing our industries’ position on key policy topics from the circular economy to cybersecurity and trade policy as the Commission accelerated its work on the green and digital transitions.

Looking ahead to 2021, the EU policy agenda facing Europe’s technology manufacturers will be more intense than anything in recent memory. As important as these policy objectives are, they will coincide with our industries continuing to suffer from the blow that this pandemic has dealt, as our latest economic report shows. Still there is much to be optimistic about. The roll-out of a vaccine gives us hope that we can put this health crisis behind us. We have been reminded of the importance of our shared, European values. And, symbolic of that, we now have a historic €1.8 trillion agreement on a new long-term EU budget and recovery instrument.

Much of next year will now be about investing those much-needed funds in Europe’s transformation, in which our industries have such a pivotal role to play. At Orgalim, we look forward to supporting Europe's technology industries in doing what they do so well: providing the innovative solutions that will unlock a greener, healthier, more prosperous Europe for all.

In the meantime, let me wish you a peaceful and relaxing holiday season and all the very best for 2021.

Orgalim welcomes the Council conclusions on circular economy

Earlier this year, Orgalim welcomed the new Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP), which will play a crucial role in achieving the European Green Deal’s overarching aim of making Europe climate neutral ...

Orgalim welcomes the EUCO agreement on the EU budget and recovery package

We welcome the EUCO agreement on the MFF and the recovery package. We call on Member States to focus national plans also on the twin objectives of digital and green transitions to further drive the br...

Orgalim comments on ongoing EU-UK trade agreement discussions

Orgalim is deeply concerned that the EU and the UK have so far failed to find an agreement on trade, which is vital to help companies on the two sides of the channel to trade. We call on both parties ...

Economics & Statistics Report - Autumn 2020

A 2021 under the sign of the crisis

Industrial AI: what future regulatory blueprint?

How to ensure that the upcoming EU AI legislation achieves its objective of being an enabler of European excellence in AI and not an obstacle? This was the focus of Orgalim’s last Industrial Strategy ...

From the DG’s desk: Generating value through values?

Tough times tend to be a test of the things we hold dear, and this exceptional year has shown that once again to be true. The crisis we have faced has exposed the fragility of basic values we have lon...

Season's greetings from Orgalim!

As we close this extraordinary 2020, we want to thank our staff, members and partners for all the hard work and their commitment to building a stronger, more resilient future for Europe. We wish you a...

Orgalim views on the 1st draft delegated act on climate change sustainable activities supplementing the EU Taxonomy Regulation

Orgalim welcomes the European Commission’s efforts in shaping the EU taxonomy legislation to help bridge the huge investment gaps that currently exist. A first delegated act on climate change sustaina...

Orgalim views on the upcoming delegated act for internet-connected radio equipment and wearables

Orgalim members are still of the opinion that a horizontal approach to cybersecurity requirements would be more beneficial than delegated acts, as this would holistically address the risks and concern...

Orgalim recommendations for the revision of the Machinery Directive

Orgalim recognises that the current economic, political and technological developments are raising questions around the Machinery Directive, leading the European Commission to look at options for a re...

Orgalim comments on the NLF evaluation roadmap

As already indicated in our response to the Blue Guide revision, we remain convinced that the New Approach and the New Legislative Framework are the best tools to support the proper functioning of the...