The last five years have generated global challenges of an unprecedented diversity and scale, making the European materials handling sector operate in a more complex and uncertain environment. The tsunami of EU regulations has worsened the situation, resulting in a mounting burden of regulations that mobilise disproportionate R&D efforts to the detriment of innovation. The cumulative effect of changing global circumstances and ever-increasing EU regulatory requirements has severely penalised our companies, putting them at a competitiveness disadvantage against global competitors. Our industry feels unprotected and unsupported by the EU who pursues laudable green and digital transition objectives, yet at the expense of its own industry.
Despite this alarming situation, there is hope. Automation, AI and sustainability offer immense opportunities for our companies to develop innovative and competitive solutions, provided 5 basic conditions are met:
- Stopping the regulatory tsunami and focusing on providing guidance and support to implementation
- Rebuilding trust between industry and policymakers
- Enforcing compliance through effective market surveillance
- Supporting industrial competitiveness by avoiding legislation that hinders innovation, investments and competitiveness
- Providing financing support in strategic areas to foster private investments
With a supportive framework, our industry will be able to contribute to Europe’s ambitions by delivering sustainable logistic systems in support of the green transition, developing innovative logistic process automation in support of the digital transition and generating jobs and growth in support of Europe’s prosperity.
It is a wake-up call for European political leaders, who need to radically change their approach and focus on removing unnecessary regulatory obstacles and allowing industry to generate growth, innovate to deliver on green ambitions, and secure long-term industrial competitiveness.
Read the FEM Policy Manifesto HERE.
