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附録17
欧州委員会リーダーシップ2015プレスリリース
IP/03/1464
Brussels, 28th October 2003
Commission and European shipbuilders present work plan for future LeaderSHIP in shipbuilding competitiveness
The initiative launched earlier this year to ensure and further develop the competitiveness of the European shipbuilding and ship repair industry has reached a new milestone. After the establishment of a High Level Advisory Group for the LeaderSHIP 2015 initiative in January 2003 (see IP/03/120) work has progressed as planned and the Advisory Group now presents the results of its work in eight key areas crucial for competitiveness. In a booklet, entitled "LeaderSHIP 2015 - Defining The Future of the European Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Industry" published today, 30 concrete recommendations in areas ranging from trade policies to industrial consolidation are made. Translating these recommendations into action will help ensure a prosperous future for European shipyards and marine equipment manufacturers. The work undertaken represents one of the first applications of the Commission's renewed approach to industrial policy in a specific manufacturing sector, as requested by the European Council.
European Commissioner for Enterprise Erkki Liikanen, who chaired the LeaderSHIP 2015 Advisory Group, said: "LeaderSHIP 2015 is an outstanding example of the results which can be achieved through stakeholders working together to promote the competitiveness of their sector. The initiative brought together a wide range of leading industry representatives, trade unions, MEPs and seven Commissioners whose policy briefs relate to shipbuilding. All areas that affect industrial competitiveness in the sector are addressed in the report and I am confident that we now have a clear and promising work plan for the future. LeaderSHIP can serve as an example for a targeted industrial policy that can also be applied to other sectors to tackle their specific challenges."
European shipbuilders continue to face serious problems in the market, with very low prices still offered by Far East competitors, despite much increased demand for certain shiptypes in 2003 and significant cost increases in particular in South Korea. At the same time the market for cruise ships, a domain in which EU shipyards excel, still feels the effects of September 11 and the global economic downturn, and shows only weak signs of recovery.
LeaderSHIP 2015 comes at a crucial time for European shipbuilders, and it sets out the key challenges the industry is facing while offering concrete measures that will address the problems identified in a timely and realistic manner. Based on intense consultations with all stakeholders, LeaderSHIP 2015 shows the way forward for an important branch of the European manufacturing industries, in order to ensure technological leadership, to strengthen customer focus and to facilitate the move to more knowledge-based products, services and production methods.
The LeaderSHIP 2015 booklet and its translation into all EU official languages and Polish can be downloaded at:
Summary of the LeaderSHIP 2015 recommendations
A Level Playing Field in World Shipbuilding
- Continuation of the present EU trade policy approach with determination.
- Full enforcement of applicable WTO rules to shipbuilding.
- Development of enforceable OECD disciplines through a new shipbuilding agreement by 2005 and an unambiguous interpretation of existing rules.
Improving Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Investment
- The European dimension of shipbuilding RDI should be strengthened through integrating and concentrating efforts, with the aim to create Technology Platforms. Work being undertaken within the Maritime Industries Forum should form the base for this approach.
- Shipbuilding should, in substance, enjoy the same conditions as other industries that engage in similar RDI activities.
- Levels of state aid need to reflect the actual technological risks taken in all phases of design, development and production.
- New definitions, notably regarding innovation aid, need to be developed where necessary.
- RDI investment support needs to aim at enhancing European technological leadership and should reward risk taking.
Advanced Financing and Guarantee Schemes
- Explore the possibility of establishing an EU-wide guarantee fund for pre- and post-delivery financing. The alternative of harmonising standards in EU member states, in line with common market and OECD rules, could also be considered, albeit difficult to fully achieve. Any such tools have to be easily applicable.
- Export credit insurance companies, covered by appropriate re-insurance, should offer hedging instruments for currency risks.
Promoting Safer and More Environment-Friendly Ships
- Existing and future EU legislation has to be strictly implemented and "exported" at international level.
- A more transparent, uniform, efficient and independent system of technical surveys of vessels has to be promoted.
- A quality assessment scheme for shipyards at world-wide level should be developed, covering new building and repair.
- Maintaining and strengthening ship repair capabilities in Europe is important to ensure a high level of transport safety and environmental protection.
- An expert committee is to be established to provide technical support to the European Commission and to EMSA.
- The great potential of Short Sea Shipping needs to be exploited through appropriate political and economic framework conditions.
A European Approach to Naval Shipbuilding Needs
- Joint requirements should be established to shape a number of major projects, enabling co-operation between yards and leading to inter-operability of systems, vessels and fleets.
- Member states should address the issue of harmonisation of export rules.
- Common rules to create a European market for defence equipment have to be developed, based on the Council's request to create an intergovernmental agency in the field of defence capabilities development, research, acquisition and armaments.
Protection of European intellectual Property Rights
- The existing instruments for IPR protection (copyright, registered designs, trademarks, patents, non-disclosure and specific collaboration agreements) need to be exploited to the full.
- Knowledge data bases for shipbuilding, containing information about the state of the art, existing patents, the specific competitive situation for certain products and solutions, and key knowledge holders, should be built and run by dedicated IPR entities.
- International patent rules applicable to shipbuilding need to be examined and possibly strengthened.
Securing the Access to a Skilled Workforce
- Programmes for shipbuilding-specific management training need to be developed and established.
- New skill requirements need to be analysed and addressed, ideally through a sectoral social dialogue.
- Exchange of staff and know-how needs to be organised on all levels, from shop floor to academia.
- A publicity campaign, showing the vitality and sustainability of the shipbuilding industry, has to be implemented.
- Regional centres of excellence could provide crucial input for the realisation of the above recommendations.
Building a Sustainable Industry Structure
- Non-action is not an option, neither is protectionism: the EU of 25 must further develop its policy approach to the sector, in line with its principles on industrial policies.
- A consolidation process among European producers should be encouraged, providing incentives to remove less efficient production capacity and thereby freeing resources for new investment.
- The current closure aid rules in the EU should be scrutinised with a view to a more pro-active approach, based on the idea of "aid to consolidation".
Background
The LeaderSHIP 2015 High Level Advisory Group convened for the first time on 28 January 2003. It established eight working groups, composed of industry representatives, Commission staff and selected experts, to address questions of competitiveness in the areas of trade, research and innovation, financing, maritime safety, naval shipbuilding, intellectual property rights, skills and industry structure. The Advisory Group re-convened on 15 July to analyse the first results from the working groups and prepare its recommendations, released today.
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