Franco-German Manifesto ‘for a European industrial policy fit for the 21st Century’

Summary:

Joint manifesto endorsed by the Ministers of the Economy of France and Germany in February 2019 putting forward a renewed vision for a European industrial strategy.

Further information:

The manifesto - backed by the two Ministers on 19 February 2019 - includes a set of 14 items setting out a vision on transforming Europe's industrial policy to face the challenges of globalisation. The document argues for increased investment in innovation, to allow for the creation, development and production of new technologies; for the revision of the existing regulatory framework, so that European companies can compete on a global level; for new measures to defend and protect European companies, markets and technologies.

Media sources highlighted that this manifesto was produced in response to the European Commission's rejection of a proposed merger between France's Alstom and Germany's Siemens due to a series of competition concerns.

• Primary Source

• Alternative Source

News

Bloomberg, 19/02/2019: Merkel, Macron Push for New EU Merger Rules After Rail Veto https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-19/merkel-wants-antitrust-rules-changed-to-foster-global-players-jsbnvxq2

EurActiv, 19/02/2019: France, Germany call for a change of European regulatory rules https://www.euractiv.com/section/competition/news/france-germany-call-for-a-change-of-european-regulatory-rules/

Deutsche Welle, 19/02/2019: German and French ministers issue manifesto for European industrial policy https://p.dw.com/p/3DghX

Industry Europe, 20/02/2019: France & Germany issue European industrial policy manifesto https://industryeurope.com/france-germany-issue-european-industrial-policy-manifesto/

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Official

Germany: Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy: Press Release, 19/02/2019: Altmaier und Le Maire beschließen gemeinsames „deutsch-französisches Manifest über die Industriepolitik“ https://www.bmwi.de/Redaktion/DE/Pressemitteilungen/2019/20190219-altmaier-und-le-maire-beschliessen-gemeinsames-deutsch-franzoesisches-manifest-ueber-die-industriepolitik.html

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