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The Textile and Clothing Association of Portugal became the first Portuguese organisation in the textile sector to endorse the Antwerp Declaration for a European Industrial Pact. This initiative, launched at the European Industry Summit on February 20th, has already received the support of 1,193 organisations from 25 sectors, including companies and associations from Europe.
In Portugal, the Antwerp Declaration has already been signed by organisations as diverse as Amorim Cork Composites, Matceramica, APQuimica – Portuguese Chemical, Petrochemical and Refining Association and ATIC – Technical Association of the Cement Industry. The novelty is that any citizen can now sign up to the initiative, on an individual basis (here).
The Antwerp Declaration for a European Industrial Pact was officially launched at the European Textile Industry Summit, which took place on 20 February 2024 in Antwerp. The initiative was initially signed by 73 companies and associations, which expressed their full support for a European Industrial Pact to complement the Green Deal and maintain high-quality jobs for workers in Europe.
ATP – Textile and Clothing Association of Portugal is the first national organisation in the textile sector to support this European industry initiative. ‘ATP’s endorsement of the Antwerp Declaration is a significant step for our industry. By joining forces with other European organisations, we are sending a clear message about the need for robust industrial policies that support sustainable growth and innovation in the textile and clothing industry. This initiative is key to ensuring that our sector remains a vital economic force in Portugal and across Europe,’ explains ATP´s president, Mário Jorge Machado.
The Antwerp Declaration for a European Industrial Pact suggests as key measures, in the shape of an appeal to Member State governments, the next European Commission and Parliament, to place the Industrial Pact at the centre of the new European Strategic Agenda for 2024-2029; to include a strong public funding chapter with a clean technology deployment fund for energy-intensive industries, closely coordinated with a simplified State aid framework, while respecting single market rules; to make Europe a globally competitive energy supplier; to focus on the infrastructure Europe needs; increase the security of EU raw materials by expanding domestic mining, sustainable processing and recycling capacity of crucial raw materials, in combination with new global partnerships; promote demand for net-zero, low-carbon and circular products; to leverage, implement, revitalize and improve the single market for the transition to integrated value chains, including measures to address the increasing fragmentation caused by the national application of European legislation; to make the innovation framework smarter, including the promotion of high-quality science, technological innovation and collaborative policies that prioritize openness and pragmatic results, while adopting innovative approaches such as regulatory sandboxes; to foster a new legislative spirit; and to ensure that this new structure delivers results for Old Continent industry.