The 27 February 2008 the European Commission has adopted a 19-point plan to address the challenges facing forest-based industries, which are adapting to deal with increased global competition, climate change and energy and wood supply availability. Important competitiveness challenges cover innovation, access to non-EU markets and high energy and transport costs. Moreover, the access to and availability of new and recovered raw material at competitive prices and the strategic role of this sector in limiting climate change are issues which need to be addressed specifically in order to provide the right framework conditions within which this industrial chain can prosper and grow. Furthermore, and in particular in the woodworking and printing sectors, the dimension of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) is especially relevant. The communication is part of the Commission’s integrated industrial policy consisting of horizontal and sectoral measures.

See http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/forest_based/index_en.html

See http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/forest_based/fbi_com_2008_0113_en.pdf

NB: within the framework of the European debates for 2009, there will be a meeting in Toulouse the 22, 23 and 24 mai 2008 about Energy and Environment.