Mr Alberto Paccanelli, President of EURATEX thanked VP Tajani for the work carried out since the decision taken in February 2013 to provide a clear roadmap to this industry following the 26 September 2012 Staff Working Documents on Fashion and High-end industries.

He stressed that “the most important objective is to create an environment in which our companies operating in the various industrial value chains are able to operate in the right conditions so to be able to successfully compete in a globalized world and therefore encouraged to maintain investments and re-invest in Europe. Today agreed roadmap for future initiatives is an important step in recognising the important contribution our industries are making to Europe prosperity.”

Vice-President Tajani highlighted the importance of the identified tangible initiatives at EU-level to support the development of the Fashion and High-end value chains. “European Fashion and High-end industries are known throughout the world for their creativity, high-quality manufacturing, innovation and inspiration stemming from Europe's rich culture. Today, all operators are committed to ensuring that Fashion and High-end manufacturing sectors continues to prosper as key pillars of European industry.”

The action plan for future initiatives is the result of a wide consultation among all stakeholders active in the Fashion and High-end industries and provides a number of concrete initiatives to be undertaken in the upcoming years in order to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness in the Fashion industries.

In concluding Mr Paccanelli emphasised that “The Fashion industries should all remain vigilant that those actions would become tangible reality also in the context of the next Commission. We should all work to maximise the benefits from the actions proposed and present, when needed, the best projects possible in a coordinated way in order to reach those goals”.

EURATEX has supported and played a central role since the start the process and with other industries participated to debates, workshops and events organized in Madrid, Milan, Paris and Brussels by the stakeholders in order to provide tangible proposals for future development of those key value chains.

EURATEX