ANTWERPEN (dpa-AFX) - More than 50 high-ranking company representatives and 15 industry associations are calling for a more industry-friendly EU policy. In a declaration issued on Tuesday, they call, among other things, for simpler state aid, lower energy costs and more European mining projects for important raw materials. In the paper, which was also signed by representatives of DAX companies and published on Tuesday, they also urgently warn against competition from the USA and China. The industrial union IG BCE also supports the so-called Antwerp Declaration.

The US economy is benefiting from government aid via the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), for example, while Chinese overcapacity and increasing exports to Europe are also increasing the pressure on European industry. "Our companies are confronted with this challenge on a daily basis. Sites are being closed, production halted and employees made redundant," it says. The declaration was signed by Bayer CEO Bill Anderson and BASF CEO Martin Brudermüller, among others.

The declaration was drawn up for a meeting of industry representatives with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Together with the Belgian EU Council Presidency, companies had organized a summit meeting of European industry for Tuesday.

Vehement criticism of the event has come from environmental associations. "We are appalled", they say in an open letter to De Croo. Organizations such as Greenpeace Belgium and the Aurelia Foundation, for example, accused the authors of not acknowledging that companies are to blame for the climate and biodiversity crises. These crises pose an enormous threat to the planet. They are the result of decades of irresponsible corporate decisions.

In their declaration, the companies also urge states to provide greater safeguards for risk investments in renewable energies. The next EU Commission must prioritize new projects for affordable renewable and nuclear energy. The European elections will take place in the summer, when a new EU Commission will also be put together.

Industry representatives also argue that free trade agreements or other agreements should secure the supply of important raw materials for industry and provide access to new markets. Every new EU law should be reviewed before it is passed to determine the extent to which it affects the competitiveness of EU companies. "The aim is to preserve high-quality jobs for employees in Europe," said IG BCE with regard to the declaration./mjm/DP/mis