1. EU Social Dialogue in the Food & Drink Industry
A sustainable, modern and innovative industrial policy for the processing and manufacturing food and drink sector
EFFAT Proposal
Estelle BRENTNALL, Food, Drink & Tobacco Political Secretary at EFFAT

2. 22 January 2014: Commission’s Communication «for a European industrial renaissance»
Complement Europe 2020 strategy: smart, sustainable and inclusive growth
Key objective: upgrade skills and facilitate industrial change

3. Overview of the agri-food sector
Annual turnover over EUR 1 trillion and around 4 million employees
Agri-food industry is part of a complex supply chain, which encompasses also agriculture and distributive trade.
Taken as a whole, that value chain generates value added of € 715 billion per year — almost 6% of the EU Gross Domestic Product. On average, 15% of household expenditure is on food and drink.
The sector not only feeds people, it also responds to cultural, health, ethical demands and many other qualities that consumers demand from their food, including convenience.
The EU is the world’s biggest exporter and importer of agricultural and food products and accounts for about 19% of total global export flows.

4. Challenges of the agri-food sector: reference to the findings of the demographic research study
Managing an ageing workforce
Addressing the issue of precarious workers
Integrating migrant workers into the workforce
Addressing gender typecasting
Employability, skills and enhancing the attractivity of the sector
Etc

5. EFFAT and FoodDrinkEurope demographic research study recommendations
“The European Commission needs to recognise the importance of the FDMP sector to the EU economy and should develop a specific strand of industrial policy that supports the further development and growth of the sector in the future”.

6. Possible content of our demands for a sustainable, modern and innovative industrial policy - 1
We ask for a new industrial policy for the food and drink sector based on innovation, research and development, education, training, health and just transition. Opportunity for stable employment with good jobs and living wages.
We ask the European Commission to pay particular attention to effectively link skills development with employment and productivity growth. Inclusion of an ageing workforce, young people and vulnerable workers.

7. Possible content of our demands for a sustainable, modern and innovative industrial policy - 2
We ask in particular for a new industrial policy for the food and drink sector based on improved quality and availability of education and training to fuel innovation, enterprise development and technological change.

8. Possible content of our demands for a sustainable, modern and innovative industrial policy - 3
An industrial policy guided by the principle of « equal pay for equal work ».
Public procurement based on social responsibility of companies as an innovation driver.
Call on the Commission to tackle tax evasion and unfair competition to ensure a level playing field based on high social and environmental standards.

9. Possible content of our demands for a sustainable, modern and innovative industrial policy - 4
Ask the Commission to support SMEs, to protect them from unfair practices, to encourage investment.
Application of an EU trade strategy based on fair and equitable trade principles.
Implementation of a European energy policy.

10. Possible content of our demands for a sustainable, modern and innovative industrial policy - 5
We consider that the High-Level Forum for a better functioning of the food-supply chain provides an appropriate platform complementary to the social dialogue committee in the food and drink sector to develop and implement this industrial policy.

11. Possible content of our demands for a sustainable, modern and innovative industrial policy - 6
To develop and implement a specific industrial policy for the food and drink manufacturing and processing sector, we consider that critical factors are needed:
Social dialogue and social partners involvement
An informed approach (consultation and inclusion of competent authorities)
Continuous research (human resources development)

12. Possible content of our demands for a sustainable, modern and innovative industrial policy - 7
Social partners’ commitments at EU level:
Promote information in the food and drink industry for the lifelong development of competencies and qualifications of employees
Diffuse best practices at national level of succession planning, career progression routes, imaginative approaches to recruitment etc

13. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
Estelle Brentnall