Dear all,

The European Commission is in the final stretch of updating the Industrial Strategy, and that has made this week’s annual EU Industry Days even more important than usual. As President von der Leyen said at the start of the event, a lot has changed in the past 12 months but what has not changed is the EU's determination to have industry lead the twin green and digital transition. We are here to work together, she signalled. And Orgalim was right there too, in the opening plenary debate, as our President Rada Rodriguez joined Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton to share our technology industries' insights into what more can be done to seize the digital and green growth opportunities. We are enthusiastic about deepening this contribution through Orgalim’s nomination to the new EU Industrial Forum.

A recurring theme this past week, and one very familiar to us here at Orgalim, has been just how interdependent the digital and green transitions are, especially in the world of industry. Getting advanced manufacturing technologies massively deployed across industrial ecosystems will be key to turbocharging them both. Whether it’s under the banner of Industry 4.0 or smart factories, automation or digitalisation, the real-life, practical examples of our members deploying advanced manufacturing technologies speak for themselves, both from an SME perspective and that of a large company.

I am encouraged by the signs from the latest PMI data that manufacturing is already starting to drive the wider recovery in Europe. But much work remains ahead of us, and getting the industrial strategy update right will be just the start. Orgalim members continue to work non-stop on all fronts to provide input into the policy making process on our shared objectives. Creating a seamless Internal Market, not least with a more effective approach to harmonised standards, remains key to our competitiveness. A trade policy that stands up for free, fair and rules-based trade is equally integral to a successful industrial strategy. In that context, the improved outlook for EU-US relations, which our next roundtable event will focus on, is promising. Together with our members, we continue to be fully mobilised on the road to a greener, digital and more resilient Europe.

Take care,