Press release – December 8, 2023
The 2023 European Ceramic Days were held on 27-29 November in Brussels, Belgium, celebrating the European Parliament Ceramics Forum (EPCF) Plenary Meeting and the Public Conference “Enabling EU Manufacturing for a Sustainable Future and Green Transition”. The event concluded with the launch of the new Ceramic Manifesto 2024-2029 “Ensuring Europe’s Sustainability with Ceramic Manufacturing”.
Following the Cerame-Unie Sectoral meetings held on 27 and 28 November, the EPCF took place on Tuesday 28 November. This year the Forum was composed of three panel debates focussing on common challenges between artisanal and industrial ceramics, the sustainable and energy transition in the EU construction sector, and the implementation of the FitFor55 package. The panels served for speakers and moderators to highlight the challenges the whole EU industry faces while on the path to a sustainable and green future. The EPCF Plenary Meetings were followed by the EPCF–Cerame-Unie cocktail during which CU President, Alain Delcourt, and Vice-President, Heimo Scheuch, delivered the new Ceramic Manifesto 2024-29 to the EU Spanish Presidency thanks to the presence and keynote speech of Ambassador D. Marcos Alonso Alonso.
On Wednesday 29 November, the CU President officially launched the Ceramic Manifesto 2024-2029 during the public conference and in the presence of the European Commission, trade unions, research and industry representatives. Ceramics are essential in many value chains to deliver on the European Green Deal. However, for the manufacturing of ceramics in Europe to be viable and sustainable, a range of EU and national policies must be adapted to restore competitiveness and create the conditions that will allow for further investments to secure the future of the sector in Europe.
Through its manifesto, the European ceramic industry proposes six key policy priorities to enable ceramics to play their essential role in contributing to a sustainable future in Europe: a review of the Emissions Trading System (ETS), access to green energy, material-neutral policies for construction, export adjustments under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and no scope extension without proper impact assessments, policies ensuring a level playing both on domestic and export markets, and a harmonised approach in health and safety regulations and standards. These six key priorities are completed in the manifesto by eight detailed policy recommendations through which European and national policies can help shape a sustainable ceramic sector. These action areas cover an ambitious and wide EU industrial policy, climate policy for manufacturing, energy resources and infrastructure for manufacturing, promoting sustainable and affordable buildings, environment & health protection and access to sustainable finance, an effective EU trade policy, effective support for research & innovation for all ceramic producers, and skills for manufacturing.
The recording of the EPCF Plenary Meeting can be found here.