A strong call to European Commission Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné came from representatives of Europe’s leading technology industry today, during the EVP’s visit to Schneider Electric’s cutting-edge smart factory in Le Vaudreuil, in Normandy.
The electrical, electronic, mechanical and metal technology industry is one of Europe’s leading industries, employing €11.6 million people and representing 770.000 companies. The message from industry was however unambiguous: regulatory overload risks crippling innovation and eroding Europe’s industrial strength. The tech industries representatives also called for the deployment of innovation and smart industrial technologies across the European value chain, to accelerate the needed transformation of the European industry. Recognized as a leading manufacturing facility by the WEF, Schneider Electric’s factory in Le Vaudreuil demonstrates that the use of advanced technologies is increasing operational performance, as well as environment sustainability. -with a 35% reduction in energy use, 64% less water consumption, and 81% decrease in CO2 emissions. To keep thriving in Europe, industrial players also need urgent removal of barriers within the EU’s Single Market to make it easier to do business and scale across the block of 27 Member States.
To read the statement in full, please download the document above.
