国际英语新闻：EU unveils strategy to boost industry

BRUSSELS, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission on Thursday unveiled a strategy to support a strong and competitive industrial base in the European Union (EU).

"Industry is at the heart of Europe and indispensable for finding solutions to the challenges of our society, today and in the future. Europe needs industry and industry needs Europe," said European Commission vice president Antonio Tajani, responsible for industry and entrepreneurship.

In a communication adopted Thursday, the commission set out ten key actions to be taken for European industrial competitiveness.

Among those, European standardization will be strengthened to meet the needs of industry and a new strategy on raw materials will be presented to create the right framework conditions for sustainable supply and management of domestic primary raw materials.

A space industrial policy will be pursued to create a solid industrial base covering the whole supply chain. Sector-specific innovation performance will be addressed through actions in sectors such as advanced manufacturing technologies, construction, bio-fuels and road and rail transport, particularly in view of improving resource efficiency.

European transport, energy and communication infrastructure and services will be upgraded to serve industry more efficiently.

The strategy paid particular attention to the support to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The commission said promoting the creation and growth of SMEs has to be at the core of EU industrial policy.

It also called for coordinated European policy responses in the era of globalization.

"In this era of intensifying globalization, the concept of national sectors and industries is obsolete," the commission said.