Terry Scuoler, chief executive of EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation will assume responsibility for leading the European manufacturing sector in Brussels and Strasbourg, having been appointed to Chair its representative body for the next three years.
He took over as chairman of CEEMET officially on 3rd July and will lead the organisation in its discussions with officials at the Commission and Parliament. He assumes the role at a critical time for the future of both the European institutions following the European elections and, the EU economy, and will help drive policies to boost manufacturing across Europe.
His first role is to launch CEEMET’s European Roadmap at a reception with new MEPs in Strasbourg. The roadmap, in which EEF has played a key role, sets out far-reaching proposals to help promote an industrial renaissance across Europe with the aim of achieving the EU’s target of raising manufacturing’s contribution to EU GDP from the current 15.1% to 20% by 2020.
The roadmap sets out specific proposals for reform of the Commission and Parliament to make economic growth and, high skill job creation a priority. These include:
• Fit-for-purpose policies, active leadership and concerted efforts by all stakeholders, ensuring that all EU policies which impact upon manufacturing competitiveness are fully aligned to the 20% objective.
• Access to skills-focused and dynamic labour markets, enabling R&D, innovation and job creation.
• Improved cooperation between policy makers and industry
Commenting, Terry Scuoler, said: “Manufacturing is critical to the future of the European economy, providing the economic growth and high skill jobs we urgently need. But, we cannot go on doing the same things over and over again and expect to see a different result. The recent elections have sent an uncomfortable message to European policymakers that must now be heeded as a matter of urgency.
“There is a growing consensus in favour of an industrial renaissance across Europe. I hope to show the leadership that our UK politicians need to show in championing and delivering reform, engagement and future policies that will deliver this vision."
CEEMET is comprised of 27 member federations from across Europe. Together they represent some 230,000 manufacturing companies providing 20 million jobs.
