Debate on protecting EU economical safety in the European Parliament

The gathering was attended by representatives of the European Parliament, including Euro MPs Andrzej Halicki and Michał Wawrykiewicz, as well as representatives of the European Commission, the Permanent Representation of Poland to the EU, manufacture organisations and entrepreneurs from the construction products sector. The debate focused on the function of customs policy as 1 of the key instruments for strengthening EU economical safety and protecting the EU marketplace from unfair trade practices.

Customs policy as an component of economical security

In fresh years, the European economy has faced both external threats – specified as economical force from 3rd countries or subsidised exports to the EU – and interior challenges, including rising energy and labour costs. The consequence is simply a weakening of business competitiveness and a decline in production in key industrial sectors.

In their speeches, Euro MPs Dariusz Joński and Bogdan Zdrojewski pointed to the request for effective usage of trade defence instruments in the face of increasing geopolitical pressure. At the same time, they stressed that these actions should go hand in hand with ensuring the competitiveness of European manufacture and a level playing field for companies in the single market.

Opening the debate, Confederate president Lewiatan Marek Górski pointed out that Europe is presently operating in a increasing geopolitical competition and increasingly assertive industrial policies of 3rd countries. In this context, customs policy should become an crucial part of the EU's economical safety strategy.

In his speech he pointed out 3 key demands of entrepreneurs:

• ensuring a level playing field for EU and non-Community companies,
• increasing the efficiency and velocity of trade defence instruments,
• greater sensitivity to signals from sectors peculiarly susceptible to import pressures.

Construction materials under import and regulatory pressure

Particular attention has been paid to the situation of manufacturers of construction materials, which are increasingly experiencing import pressures, face expanding competition from 3rd countries and operate under a systematically deteriorating regulatory and cost environment. Representatives of the ceramic manufacture discussed the challenges of importing tiles from India, Turkey and China. The bituminous papu producers pointed to the possible effects of the expiry of sanctions against Russia and Belarus. The debate besides addressed the problem of rising imports of glass from China. Participants pointed out that the current trade defence mechanisms should work faster and more effectively to prevent the sustainable failure of competitiveness of European producers and jobs.

The debate was besides attended by Piotr Rydzkowski from the Directorate-General for Trade of the European Commission (DG Trade), who presented the principles of the EU's economical safety strategy, and Tadeusz Senda, Councillor-Minister at the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Poland to the EU, discussing the most crucial changes in the improvement of the EU Customs Code.

The participants besides discussed possible directions for action and the timetable for further work. Strong Europe needs a strong and competitive industry, and a coherent and effective customs policy is 1 of the foundations for building the economical resilience of the European Union.