Stéphane Séjourné, executive vice-president of the European Commission for prosperity and industrial strategy, has said Europe should adopt a “Made in Europe” strategy to safeguard its industrial base and reduce excessive dependence on external competitors, according to Reuters.
In an opinion article published across European newspapers and co-signed by more than 1,100 CEOs and business leaders, Séjourné warned that, without a strong and pragmatic industrial policy, Europe risks becoming “a playground for its competitors”, particularly in the face of mounting pressure from low-priced imports from China.
Industrial Accelerator Act and internal divisions
The intervention comes ahead of the European Commission’s planned proposal for an Industrial Accelerator Act later this month. The initiative is expected to promote locally manufactured products in strategic sectors as a means of strengthening European industry.
However, the proposal has highlighted divisions within the EU. While countries such as France support European preference rules, others including Sweden and the Czech Republic have cautioned that strict “buy local” requirements could deter investment, raise costs in public procurement and ultimately weaken Europe’s global competitiveness.
Steel industry support and strategic concerns
The opinion piece was endorsed by leaders from a broad range of sectors, including steel producers such as ArcelorMittal, Tata Steel and Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe.
Marie Jaroni, CEO of Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe, emphasized that steel remains a strategic asset for Europe, warning that industries which fail to shape global industrial rules risk being marginalized over time.
Automotive sector reservations
Notably, major car manufacturers were largely absent from the list of signatories, reflecting concerns over how narrowly “Made in Europe” would be defined.
Jim Baumbick, president of Ford of Europe, said the company supports strengthening Europe’s industrial base but stressed that the framework must remain open to trusted partners such as the UK and Turkey, which are deeply integrated into European automotive value chains. Bosch CEO Stefan Hartung similarly cautioned that the focus should be on ensuring a level playing field rather than compensating for structural competitiveness gaps.
Budget implications and inflation risks
Séjourné defended the approach by noting that other major economies already favor domestic production through initiatives such as “Made in China” or “Buy American”. He argued that, whenever European public funds are deployed, they should support European production capacity and high-quality jobs. Local content rules are also expected to play a role in negotiations over the EU’s next long-term budget for the 2028-2034 period.
At the same time, industry leaders warned of possible unintended consequences. Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz, cautioned that overly rigid local content requirements could drive inflation higher and reduce market size, stressing that such measures must be applied carefully to avoid negative economic side-effects.