European industry leaders are pushing for urgent action to restore the region’s economic competitiveness while advancing climate goals. The Antwerp Declaration, first presented in February 2024 by 73 business leaders, has now gathered support by signing the Antwerp Declaration from 1,300 organisations across 25 sectors, including the European Sealing Association (ESA). It urges the EU to complement the Green Deal with a European Industrial Deal to safeguard jobs and attract investment.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has made competitiveness a central theme of her second term. Her Competitiveness Compass, announced at Davos, outlines measures to reduce regulatory burdens, foster innovation, and address labour shortages. Key upcoming initiatives include:

  • Chemicals Industry Package (Q4 2024) – Aims to simplify REACH regulations, improve hazard decision-making, and enhance sustainability and security.
  • Advanced Materials Act (2026) – Provides a framework to support advanced materials from research to deployment, benefiting key industries.
  • The Net-Zero Industry Act, part of the Green Deal Industrial Plan, aims to scale up clean technology manufacturing in the EU. It sets a target for net-zero technologies to meet at least 40% of deployment needs by 2030, reinforcing climate neutrality goals while boosting investment and job creation.

The fluoropolymers sector is particularly looking forward to seeing these proposals come to light. With their unique properties and essential role in semi-conductors, mobility, fuel cells, batteries, renewable energy, robotics, secure connectivity, and defense, fluoropolymers are vital advanced materials. A well-structured regulatory framework would enable their full potential in Europe’s drive for competitiveness and sustainability.

Von der Leyen will present her Clean Industrial Deal in Antwerp on February 26 before 300 industry leaders, including ESA. The plan seeks to ease regulatory complexity, lower energy costs, and ensure EU industries remain competitive with the US and China.

With these initiatives, the EU aims to balance sustainability with economic strength, ensuring industries thrive in a competitive global landscape.

Sandy Van den Broeck,
ESG Director, ESA