The Belgian EU Presidency - Promoting Policies for Industry, Innovation and SMEs
In the context of the Europe 2020 Strategy, the Belgian Presidency of the Competitiveness Council, which is being conducted by the Region of Wallonia in relation to industrial matters, will concentrate on three areas that can help to achieve smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.
Sustainable industrial policy: The development of a green economy is of critical importance for Europe. Thus, the Belgian Presidency is willing to include environmental issues in the debates arising from the European Commission’s communication on industrial policy. This will entail addressing the competitiveness and social challenges linked to the development of competitive green sectors.
Innovation: Following the adoption of the European Research and Innovation Plan, the ensuing discussions will take place under the Belgian Presidency. Wallonia will focus on the role of cluster policies in enhancing European competitiveness based on its experience of cluster policies.
SME policy: The Small Business Act for Europe that aims to help SMEs tackle the problems which hamper their development, will be reviewed during the second half of 2010. In this respect, the Belgian Presidency intends to highlight the importance of SMEs’ contribution to the European economy and the need to keep them at the very heart of European competitiveness policy.
More information is available at the official website of the Belgian Presidency: http://www.eutrio.be
More information about the priorites for the Belgian Presidency of the Competitiveness Council - industrial issues: http://economie.wallonie.be/competitiveness/Belgian-presidency-eu-competitiveness-council.htm
Website of Jean-Claude Marcourt, Minister of Economy, SMEs, external trade, new technologies and higher education (in French only): http://marcourt.wallonie.be
