The European Commission has submitted the CARS 2020 Action Plan with a view to reinforcing the competitiveness and sustainability of the automotive industry, said Katarina Jastrzembska of the EU Commission General Directorate for Enterprise and Industry at a briefing on Thursday, November 9.
"The automotive industry in Slovakia is very up-to-date. We hope that Slovakia will continue in this trend ... to create opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses. This sector will be given a strategic position according to the EU Commission. That's why it's necessary to re-train employees so they will be able to respond to advances in technology," said Jastrzembska, as quoted by the TASR newswire.
Nonetheless, the representative conceded that Slovakia needs to invest more into research and development, as "it's lagging behind other EU countries in this sphere". The action plan is based on four pillars. The first involves an innovation boost in advanced technologies for so-called 'clean vehicles'. The second pillar concerns improving market conditions, the third involves support for the industry in accessing the global market, and the fourth pillar is based on promoting investment in skills and expert training.
The automotive industry is of strategic importance for the EU economy, as it secures 12 million jobs, accounts for 4 percent of EU GDP and generates a trade surplus of €90 billion. The sector is the largest investor in research and innovation in Europe.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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