Greater safeguards for the sector, to guarantee employment levels: that is the demand made by the European Union’s TCLF sector. The united fashion supply chain (Cotance for tanning, CEC for footwear, Euratex for textiles-clothing, and the trade union organization industriAll Europe) addressed the 7 actions for the 2025-2029 period. 2029 marks the election of the next MEPs and thus the start of a new cycle. In addition, the supply chain expressed full support for an industrial agreement that integrates the EU Green Deal, to maintain quality jobs in Europe.
The united fashion supply chain’s proposals
In the joint press release, the community’s associations presented their 7 priorities. The first is to ensure the green transition of companies. Then, develop a retraining and skills upgrading program. Third is to promote social dialogue in the sector. Fourth: ensuring a “reasonable, stable and consistent regulatory environment”, as European legislations roll in. Fifth, ensuring better access to raw materials and energy, and sixth to achieve free and fair trade “to ensure a level playing field“. The seventh goal concerns sustainability and increasing demand for products made in Europe. In particular, the TCLF sector calls for incentives for customers and consumers to buy sustainable products made in Europe.
The segment’s texture
TCLF sectors in Europe employ more than 1.5 million people. 1.3 million in textiles and clothing; tanning and leather provide 34,531 jobs and footwear 222,000. They create a total turnover of over 200 billion euro (textiles and clothing 170 billion euros; tanning and leather 7.3 billion; footwear 23.2 billion). More than 99% of European companies in these sectors are SMEs, which is why crises and economic challenges have a very high impact, compared to other economic sectors characterized by larger companies.
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