Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The European Commission will launch a Strategic Dialogue with the European automotive industry, social partners and other major stakeholders on January 30, 2025.
As reported by the Commission, the Strategic Dialogue seeks to engage industry players, stakeholders and social partners to collaboratively comprehend challenges, design solutions, and take substantial measures. Within the EU Commission, Commissioner Tzitzikostas has been in charge of creating an action plan for the sector, which will gain from these meetings.
President von der Leyen will chair the Strategic Dialogue consisting of regular sessions bringing together industry stakeholders and members of civil society. Thematic working bodies will then come forward with precise proposals. Broader talks with other stakeholders across the industry as well as other parts of the automotive value chain, will also be performed. Both the Council and the European Parliament will be closely engaged in the process.
Key meeting points will include clean transition innovation and decarbonisation, competitiveness and resilience, trade associations and international ‘level playing field’, and regulatory streamlining and operation optimisation.
How is the EU Commission addressing automotive industry issues?
The European Commission has been very proactive in addressing issues for the European automotive sector over the years with regard to shifting towards electric vehicles and the sustainability issue. All new cars sold within the EU have to be zero-emitting since 2035.
The EU Commission also conducted a CECRA Conference 2024 with a focus on the future of automotive retail and repair. These topics include the European Green Deal, aftermarket aspects, and new business models in automotive distribution. The objective was to combine all the players from the ecosystem of the automotive sector including manufacturers, dealers, and policymakers.