Reference documents

Industrial Policy

The Communication on " An integrated industrial policy for the globalisation era  " was adopted by the European Commission on the 28th of October 2010, as one of the flagship initiatives of the “Europe 2020” strategy. The Communication proposed a strategy that aims to boost growth and jobs by maintaining and supporting a strong, diversified and competitive industrial base in Europe.

• Further information on the European Industrial policy flagship 
• Commission Staff Working document SEC (2009) 1111 final  
• European industry in a challenging world - updated sectoral overview 2009 SEC(2009) 1111 final [2 MB]
• Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Communication from the Commission Implementing the Community Lisbon Programme: A policy framework to strengthen EU manufacturing — towards a more integrated approach for industrial policy COM(2005) 474 final Official Journal C 185 , 08/08/2006

Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry monitors factors affecting the competitiveness of the mining, metals and non-metallic mineral products sectors within the framework of industrial policy. The sectors were amongst the 27 industries covered by synthetic fiches contained in the background document accompanying the Directorate General Enterprise and Industry's Communication " Implementing the Community Lisbon Programme: A Policy Framework for EU Manufacturing - towards a more integrated approach for Industrial Policy  " of October 2005.

A mid-term review of the Communication was carried out in 2007, and resulted in a follow-up Communication: " Mid-term Review of Industrial Policy: A Contribution to the EU's Growth and Jobs Strategy   " COM(2007)374 which was adopted in July 2007.

Steel

• Study on the Competitiveness of the European Steel Sector    (Ecorys, August 2008) which analysed the issues affecting the competitiveness of the steel sector, was carried out in 2008 by independent consultants following a call for proposals under the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP).
• Report on steel restructuring in Bulgaria and Romania  

Non-ferrous metals

• Study on the competitiveness of the EU Non-ferrous metals industries [3 MB] which analysed the issues affecting the competitiveness of the non-ferrous metals sector, was finalised in 2011 by independent consultants, following a call for proposals under the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP)

Steel and non-ferrous metals

• Commission staff working document ( SEC(2006) 1069  ): "ANALYSIS OF ECONOMIC INDICATORS OF THE EU METALS INDUSTRY: THE IMPACT OF RAW MATERIALS AND ENERGY SUPPLY ON COMPETITIVENESS"
• A communication on the competitiveness of the metals industries ( COM(2008) 108 final  )
• Commission staff working document accompanying the Communication COM (2008)/108 (SEC/2008/0246 final)
• Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the Competitiveness of the metals industries- A CONTRIBUTION TO THE EU'S GROWTH AND JOBS STRATEGY - (EESC 2009/C175/19 )
• Council conclusions (ref. 10174/08 3/6/2008 ): "A FRESH IMPETUS FOR COMPETITIVENESS AND INNOVATION OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMY"

• Bulletin " EU Ferrous & Non-Ferrous Metals Industry  " (May 2009)

Non-energy extractive industries

Almost all the European legislation affecting the industry is horizontal and was not developed with the specific requirements of the extractive industry as a key objective (see links). The only Directives developed specifically for the extractive industry are:

• Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the 'Processing and exploitation, for economic and environmental purposes, of industrial and mining waste deposits in the European Union (Own-initiative opinion)' CCMI/087 26 October 2011 [69 KB]
• Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee  on the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on 'Tackling the challenges in commodity markets and on raw materials' (COM(2011) 25 final)  CCMI/091 14 July 2011 [124 KB]
• Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the 'Access to secondary raw materials (scrap iron, recycled paper, etc.) (own-initiative opinion)' CCMI/078 17 February 2011 [102 KB]
• Communication on commodity markets and raw materials - COM(2011) 25 final 2 February 2011 
• Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Non-energy mining industry in Europe’ (2009/C 27/19) 3 February 2009
• Staff Working Document: "Analysis of the competitiveness of the non-energy extractive industry in the EU" - SEC(2007) 771           
• Directive 2006/21/EC   on the management of waste from extractive industries (which entered into force in 2008);
• Directive 92/91/EEC   concerning the minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers in the mineral-extracting industries through drilling (eleventh individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC); and
• Directive 92/104/EEC   on the minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers in surface and underground mineral-extracting industries (twelfth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC ). 

The European Commission has adopted on 4 November 2008 a new integrated strategy on Raw materials which sets out targeted measures to secure and improve the access to raw materials for EU industry. The Commission will report to the Council in 2 years on the implementation of the Raw materials initiative.

• Communication on the Raw Materials Initiative - Meeting our critical needs for growth and jobs in Europe
• Staff Working Document accompanying the Communication  

A Commission Staff Working Document   on the competitiveness of the EU non-energy extractive industry of 4 June 2007 analysed the availability of non-energy raw materials within the EU. It also examined the different drivers of a competitive extractive industry in Europe.

See also Press release (05/06/07): 'Vice-President Verheugen: Securing raw material supply for EU industries'.

Non-metallic mineral products

Two major studies were commissioned in 2007 to analyse in detail the issues affecting the competitiveness of the ceramics and glass sectors. These studies were carried out in 2008 by independent consultants following a call for proposals under the Enterprise and Industry DG's Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP).