Hearing with the European Commission on the future of the automotive industry

The hearing, which was steered by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW), aimed to assess in particular the priorities of trade unions for a European automotive sector which is innovate and remains a hub for quality employment on the continent - despite the challenges it faces in the international context.

During the hearing, which took place as part of the European Commission's Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the European Automotive Industry, CESI was represented by Secretary General Klaus Heeger and Sara Rinaudo from the Italian Fismic-Confsal union, which represents Italian metal workers in the Italian car industry. They made clear that workers in the car industry currently need:

• Enhanced social protection: Implementation of social protection mechanisms for workers impacted by the restructuring and transition to sustainable mobility - Extension and strengthening of social safety nets to ensure adequate worker security, easing the tax burden at national level currently affecting these benefits.
• Support for the green transition: Increasing investment plans to support the automotive sector - Implementation of a realistic and gradual transition, adjusting Green Deal sanctions deadlines and adopting a tailored approach for the specific needs of the automotive sector - Recognition of alternative fuels and intermediate technologies - Promotion of technological neutrality and support the use of intermediate solutions for the industry’s sustainable evolution.
• Adequate economic support: Strengthening of European transition funds and provision of tax incentives to companies investing in green technologies - Emphasis on research and development while simplifying fund access for SMEs in the sector.

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