Message from the Secretary General – June 2014
Brussels, 2 June 2014 – Today sees the launch of the ACEA Connect newsletter. This monthly compilation of our latest news, press releases, events and publications will help you keep abreast of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association’s (ACEA) work. ACEA Connect covers news from ACEA’s priority fields: Competitiveness, Market and Economy; Environment and Sustainability; International Trade; Research and Innovation; Safety; and Transport policy.
From ACEA Secretary General, Erik Jonnaert.
In May 2014, Europeans went to the polls to elect the European Parliament. This legislature will run until 2019, over a five year period that promises to be significant for the industry. We are also expecting later this calendar year the appointment of a new College of Commissioners for a new 5 year mandate . Between now and then, the industry will have to meet a number of regulatory targets on issues ranging from CO2 emissions and noise levels, whilst also competing in an ever-changing world market.
Europe’s automobile industry presently invests €32 billion a year in R&D, underpins around 12.9 million direct and indirect European jobs, and turns over hundreds of billions of euros every year. These facts make the automobile industry one of the continent’s strategic – but also the most heavily regulated – productive industries.
ACEA looks forward to working with Europe’s new leaders over the next half-decade in order to ensure the continued economic and environmental sustainability of the automobile industry.
