The Confindustrias of Italy, France and Germany, Europe's leading manufacturing countries, met on 1 and 2 December in Rome for the 4th Trilateral Business Forum Confindustria - Medef - Bdi.

On this occasion, they called on the respective governments and all relevant institutions at European level to pay the utmost attention to the critical issues facing European industry, especially small and medium-sized industry.

Forecasts for 2023 indicate low or negative growth and the high inflation rate is making its effects felt. This is why we must act with a great sense of responsibility, in a gradual and proportionate manner, avoiding ideological approaches that risk undermining the competitiveness of entire industrial sectors.

Introducing new common financial instruments to anticipate future crises, instituting short-term, low-cost measures to contain gas and electricity prices for businesses, reducing Europe's dependence on imports of 'critical raw materials' and avoiding supply shortages, launching a regulatory truce to boost Europe's competitiveness and designing a fiscal policy to boost public investment. These are the main thrusts of the Joint Declaration signed by Presidents Carlo Bonomi for Confindustria, Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux for Medef and Siegfried Russwurm for Bdi.

The green transition is an inescapable process in which industry is actively participating, but it must be done on time and in the right way or we run the risk of losing capacity. Already agreed targets cannot be constantly changed, as is happening with the revision of the packaging and packaging waste directive.

Anticipating future crises must be one of the cornerstones of European action. For this, it is essential to introduce funding instruments dedicated exclusively to dealing with possible new emergencies.

The European Union must adopt immediate and shared solutions to curb soaring energy prices, while ensuring that European climate policies do not undermine the productive fabric and employment.

Furthermore, it is crucial to reduce our dependence on imported raw materials. For this reason, Confindustria, Medef and Bdi hope that the forthcoming EU proposal on 'critical raw materials' will be based on a thorough analysis of present and future needs for these materials and their impact on the industrial sector, in order to avoid possible shortages and minimise the negative effects of their rising costs.

It is emphasised in the note that Confindustria, Medef and Bdi, support a reform of European economic governance that encourages public investment. The ambition is for a united and united Europe, capable of working on shared solutions in the interest of all its member states.

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