Liikanen calls for cooperation on a sustainable chemicals policy for Europe
Enterprise Commissioner Erkki Liikanen has invited stakeholders in the chemistry industry to help kick start a new system for a sustainable chemicals strategy in the EU, based on suggestions in a Commission white paper, published last February. Mr Liikanen outlined the Commission's current position to representatives of multinationals and Europe's estimated 40,000 small and medium sized (SME) chemicals companies at the Brussels stakeholders' conference on chemicals strategy on 2 April. Speaking on the need for cooperation within the chemicals industry as well as for a clear risk management policy, he stressed the chemicals sector's importance for Europe. 'Chemicals and the basic science of chemistry are vital,' he said. 'It is an industry which means a lot to Europe when considered in terms of output, balance of trade, employment, and consumer benefits.' The Commission wants to see a decision on European chemicals policy made in the next year, and is confident in the strategies it has proposed so far. 'I believe that there will be broad support for the goals set out in the Commission's paper,' said Mr Liikanen. 'The key challenge at this stage is to achieve these goals in a balanced way with benefits to health or environment, and in terms of confidence.' 'The Commission has set out objectives which are ambitious and justified. We now look to Parliament and to the Council to find the essential political balances, which will allow all the stakeholders to feel that their concerns have been met. But we look to them also to help us build a structure that will be workable,' he concluded.