HIGH-LEVEL EU POLICY ROUNDTABLE – KEY TAKEAWAYS
A competitive manufacturing sector for a stronger EU
At EMO Hannover 2025, CECIMO hosted a high-level policy roundtable, under Chatham House rules, bringing together senior representatives from the European Commission, industry, and space agency to debate how Europe can strengthen its manufacturing competitiveness. The discussion, moderated by CECIMO Director General Filip Geerts, featured contributions from Antonio Puente (DG CNECT), Barbara Bonvissuto (DG GROW), Carsten Schierenbeck (DG RTD), Christian Bölling (EIT Manufacturing) and Thomas Rohr (ESA), alongside interventions from industry leaders and national associations.
Artificial intelligence was one of the key topics. Antonio Puente underlined the potential of AI to transform advanced manufacturing, stressing the importance of equipping Europe’s workforce with the right skills and simplifying regulation to enable faster AI adoption. He announced that the forthcoming “Apply AI Strategy,” expected in October, will present concrete applications with a strong focus on advanced manufacturing.
The Single Market and Europe’s regulatory framework were also central to the debate. Barbara Bonvissuto explained that the Commission is preparing a revision of the Market Surveillance Regulation, the Standardisation Regulation, and the New Legislative Framework. The aim is to improve governance, strengthen oversight of certification bodies, and ensure the timely availability of harmonised standards. She also highlighted the value of the digital product passport in simplifying compliance and improving traceability and pointed to the new Competitiveness Fund as a tool to channel investment into advanced manufacturing.
Speakers also turned to the challenge of innovation and sustainability. Carsten Schierenbeck stressed the urgency of closing Europe’s innovation gap while pursuing industrial decarbonisation. He noted that Horizon Europe partnerships will remain a powerful instrument to support collaborative research and industrial transformation.
Encouraging broader industrial participation was highlighted by Christian Bölling, who outlined EIT Manufacturing’s simplified project schemes designed to lower barriers for companies, particularly SMEs. While these initiatives are opening doors, he cautioned that more effort is needed to attract SMEs and ensure investment remains in Europe rather than shifting abroad.
The importance of resilience and key sectors was emphasised by Thomas Rohr, who showcased how advanced manufacturing strengthens aerospace supply chains. Industry representatives reinforced this point, underlying the central role of machine tools in innovation and competitiveness, while calling for greater regulatory simplification to maintain Europe’s global leadership.
Several pressing concerns were also raised by industry participants. High and uneven energy costs across Member States were seen as a major barrier to competitiveness, while limited policy support in areas such as electric mobility risks slowing the green transition. Speakers also warned of growing unfair competition from non-compliant imports and stressed the importance of defence and dual-use technologies for Europe’s strategic autonomy.
In closing, the roundtable made clear that Europe’s manufacturing ecosystem needs a policy framework that reduces red tape, prioritises investment in strategic technologies, and ensures a level playing field. As Filip Geerts remarked, a strong and competitive manufacturing sector is not only the foundation of Europe’s economic strength but also a pillar of its resilience and autonomy in an increasingly uncertain world.