The European Apparel and Textile Confederation, EURATEX, has formally called on the European Commission and Member States to move beyond political commitments and translate stated priorities into concrete action for the textile and apparel value chain. While acknowledging the broad scope of the Commission President’s recent address, EURATEX expressed concern that industrial competitiveness received comparatively limited attention given the scale of challenges currently facing European manufacturing.
Manufacturing Must Be Central to the EU Agenda
EURATEX has urged the Commission to match its political commitments with an equal sense of urgency on EU industrial strategy, and to place manufacturing sectors — including textiles — more firmly at the centre of its agenda in the months ahead.
Dirk Vantyghem, Director General of EURATEX, stated: “Europe cannot build a strong defence, lead the green and digital transitions, or protect its social model on a weakening industrial base. Competitiveness is not just one chapter of the European project — it is the foundation all the others are built on; when we get that right, everything else becomes possible.”
This call for action comes at a time when textile competitiveness across Europe is under significant pressure, and the sector looks to Brussels for policy responses that are both timely and substantive.
Trade Deficit With China Reaches a Tipping Point
On the matter of trade, EURATEX shares the Commission President’s assessment that the EU’s growing trade deficit with China — now standing at approximately €1 billion (around $1.15 billion) per day — has reached a tipping point. The textile and apparel sector has been on the front line of what EURATEX describes as a “second China shock” for years.
The confederation is advocating that the Commission move swiftly from dialogue to concrete trade-defence measures. These include stronger customs enforcement and more robust imports monitoring specifically for textile products. EURATEX has made clear that words alone are no longer sufficient — the sector requires demonstrable and enforceable action.
SME Simplification and the Fight Against Gold-Plating
EURATEX also welcomed the Commission President’s pledge to cut administrative burden and establish a “pact against gold-plating” with Member States. The textile industry is made up of a vast majority of small and medium-sized enterprises, and these businesses are disproportionately affected by overlapping and often diverging national implementations of EU rules.
Genuine SME simplification in regulatory processes would, according to EURATEX, meaningfully improve the textile competitiveness of these businesses across the single market. The confederation stressed that this is not a peripheral concern — it is central to keeping European textile manufacturing viable.
Dedicated Support Needed in the Next Multiannual Financial Framework
Looking ahead to the next Multiannual Financial Framework, EURATEX stressed the need for dedicated support for the textile industry. The sector is identified as a strategic manufacturing sector for Europe’s green, digital, and defence transitions, and EURATEX cautioned that the industry must not be left without targeted instruments as EU funding priorities are reshaped.
The confederation’s position reflects a broader concern about the risk of industrial sectors being overlooked in the reallocation of EU funds, particularly at a time when strategic autonomy and resilience are high on the political agenda.
Defence Textiles: A Recognised Part of Europe’s Industrial Base
EURATEX commended the Commission President’s announcement of a new “European Instrument for Strategic Enablers,” designed to strengthen European defence capabilities. The confederation pointed out that technical and defence-related textiles — ranging from protective equipment and ballistic materials to smart textiles for soldier systems — form an integral part of Europe’s defence industrial base.
EURATEX confirmed it stands ready to ensure the textile sector is fully recognised within this effort, reinforcing that EU industrial strategy must account for the full breadth of technical manufacturing capabilities that textiles provide.
EU–Canada Alliance and Strengthening Industrial Ties
On international partnerships, EURATEX noted with interest the Commission President’s proposal to deepen the EU–Canada relationship through an “Alliance for the Future.” The confederation recently signed Memoranda of Understanding with its Canadian counterparts — the Canadian Textiles Industry Association and the Canadian Apparel Federation. EURATEX stated it is well-placed to build on this cooperation as EU–Canada industrial ties are further developed.
Mediterranean Youth Skills Initiative: EURATEX Ready to Contribute
Finally, EURATEX expressed support for the announced Mediterranean Youth Skills and Jobs initiative. The confederation is already active in this domain through its role in the Pact for Skills and has ongoing engagement across the Mediterranean region. EURATEX confirmed its readiness to contribute its expertise to help ensure the initiative delivers meaningful opportunities for young people within the textile and apparel value chain.
The overall message from EURATEX is consistent: political announcements must now give way to concrete policy delivery, and textile competitiveness must be treated not as a secondary concern but as a foundational pillar of Europe’s broader industrial, defence, and sustainability ambitions. The EU industrial strategy, in EURATEX’s view, is only as strong as the manufacturing base it is built upon — and that base includes textiles.
