Vice-President Verheugen supports COTANCE
Press Release
European Commission Vice-President Verheugen supports COTANCE in 3 key areas
The COTANCE Presidency led by President Nalle Johansson (ELMO, Sweden) met in Brussels on Friday 30 October 2009 European Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen for a de-briefing session following the previous encounter of July 3.
President Johansson, Vice-Presidents Ricomard (Tanneries Roux, France) and Mercogliano (UNIC & Lineapelle, Italy) as well as COTANCE Secretary General, Mr Gonzalez-Quijano, reviewed with Mr Verheugen the development of the sector since the start of the economic crisis and the initiatives that were taken at EU level in response to the COTANCE requests for supporting the competitiveness of the European Leather Industry.
COTANCE reported an improvement in the European Leather trade & industry since the summer 2009, with orders and exports picking up again. The General Press has notably highlighted business progress in supplies to the automotive sector thanks to the support to the car industry consented by EU Governments and in the industrial cluster of Arzignano that is regaining momentum notably in exports of high quality leather for the fashion industry. Commission Vice-president Verheugen was pleased to note the resilience and reactivity of European tanners in front of the adverse economic situation and encouraged the sector to continue on the positive path.
Attendants assessed then the progress of Commission initiatives requested by the European Leather Industry for strengthening the sector’s competitiveness. Good progress could be identified in particular in three areas :
Statement on Greenpeace Report
Joint Statement of the Social Partners of the European Leather Industry on the Greenpeace Report on the deforestation of the Amazon rain forest
The Social Partners of the European Leather Industry addressed in their Social Sectoral Dialogue Committee Meeting of December 15, 2009 (Brussels), the allegations made to the leather industry in general and to certain European tanneries and their customers in particular in the Greenpeace report released over Internet on the deforestation of the Amazon.
They appreciate the gravity of the problem uncovered by Greenpeace and express upfront their solidarity with the objective of preserving the environment and notably the avoidance of irresponsible harm to the Amazon rain forest. The European Social Partners dissociate themselves from any form of unsustainable generation of hides and skins notably the one highlighted in the Greenpeace report.
However, COTANCE and ETUF-TCL regret the distorted vision with regard to the link made in the report between the issue and the leather trade & industry that has been further conveyed in the general press, amplifying the collateral damage caused to the image of the leather industry and to the reputation of the people who work in the leather value chain including European tanners and their customers.
E-Shoe Learning
E-shoe learning is a project, which was successfuly completed under Leonardo da Vinci program and led by Industrial development centre for leather and footwear industry of Slovenia - ZAVOD IRCUO. Its partners included GERIC Member CTIC, the Portuguese leather technology centre.
The project contributes to the development and share of knowledge related to footwear development and manufacturing. There is no secondary or tertiary footwear education level in Slovenia, but there are still quite many small, medium and big size companies, which need educated workers to produce and sell quality products.
This is why E-shoe learning project provided three basic tools to support the development and share of knowledge:
- new footwear handbook with contemporary issues,
- seminars on footwear development and manufacturing,
- central web page dedicated to offer basic and advanced knowledge, knowledge share tools (forum) and knowledge check features to instantly check the level of knowledge on specific area.
Please read: comments on the results of the project
For more information, visit the E-Shoe Learning web site.
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