CECIMO position paper: The EU has to tackle the lack of investments to secure its industrial future

Executive Summary

• Investment in Europe is in a declining trend since the onset of the economic crisis in 2009
• Europe is in a downward spiral of “low investment – low productivity – low value added – low profitability” which hampers competitiveness and growth
• A delayed recovery in “industrial equipment and machinery” investments point out that Europe’s industrial infrastructure is becoming obsolete
• Europe lags behind major competitors in terms of labour, material and energy costs; investing in advanced manufacturing capabilities is key to boost productivity whilst optimizing resource use
• “Advanced manufacturing” should be placed at the top of the EU Industrial Policy as the major driver of competitiveness in the face of global competition