The measures proposed by the European Commission to make manufacturing in Europe more attractive are, according to the DIHK, overly regulatory and not sufficiently open to technology.

"Europe must become more agile, faster, and more digital."

The position paper outlines what is needed for a fresh sense of optimism. The key approaches include:

Practical Implementation Matters

Industrial policy must be developed in close dialogue with businesses, especially considering the feasibility for small and medium-sized enterprises. Bureaucratic processes tie up skilled personnel urgently needed elsewhere. For companies, reliability and planning certainty are critical—even for delegated and implementing acts outside of regular legislative processes. Institutionalized inclusion of the broader economy could help prevent additional strains, according to the DIHK.

Open-Technology Promotion Processes

To propel both green and digital transformation, DIHK advocates a promotion strategy that is open to various technologies and industries, alongside building transfer infrastructures—including living labs and test and validation environments for disruptive innovations.

Many EU programs are not widely known within the broader economy or are too complex for smaller enterprises to apply for. Targeted information, standardized and digitized procedures, more automation, and systematic enterprise experience exchange could address these gaps.

Standardizing Circular Economy

Circular business models enhance Europe's supply security—heavily reliant on imports for many raw materials—and contribute to the sustainable economy. To succeed in increased recycling, European norms and standards that ensure legal certainty, reduce bureaucracy, and create markets should be developed collaboratively with businesses, recommends DIHK.

The digital product passport could facilitate the return of high-quality secondary raw materials to production cycles. For this to happen, unified requirements for processes and master data are necessary. Additionally, data protection and safeguards against industrial espionage must be ensured.

Prioritizing Market Economy

State interventions pose risks of market distortion and should only be well-justified. Businesses are responsible for resilience and diversification; rigid requirements for stockpiling or supply chains are excessive from the perspective of the commercial industry.

Industry: Europe's Economic Pillar

Industry, particularly the industrial SMEs, remains the backbone of value creation, employment, education, and innovation in Europe. It drives climate and environmental technologies forward, ensuring prosperity, sovereignty, and climate targets. Politics and society should recognize this role, improve framework conditions, and foster a sense of momentum for transformation.

Here you can download the position paper:
"Industrial Policy in Europe: Collaboratively Enabling Industry Transformation" (PDF, 158 KB) (only available in German)