European Apparel and Textile Organisation
24 rue Montoyer – B – 1000
Brussels
phone: + 32.2.285.48.81 – Fax : +32.2.230.60.54
e:mail : william.lakin@euratex.org
Web-site : www.euratex.org
A celebration of European values and achievements in the textile and apparel field
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European Apparel and Textile Organisation
Rue Montoyer n° 24 Box 10 – 1000 Brussels
Web-site: www.euratex.org
PRESS RELEASE
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February 15th 2008
For Immediate Release
A celebration of European values and achievements in the textile and apparel field
“A celebration of European values, achievements and ambitions in the textile and apparel field” was the term used by EURATEX President Michele TRONCONI at the conclusion on Friday 15th February of the Milan Conference entitled “European Fashion and Innovation in tandem with EU values – A Win-Win Formula” organised under the auspices of the European Commission and its Vice-President Günther VERHEUGEN. The event was organised in conjunction with the Italian Government, SMI- the Italian textile and apparel federation, the European Trades Union for textiles and apparel, ETUF-TCL, and EURATEX.
Mr. TRONCONI stated: “We were extremely pleased that Vice-President VERHEUGEN should have given us this opportunity to demonstrate the creativity and innovation which is omnipresent in the European textile and apparel industry. In so doing he has made clear his belief in the future of our industry and in its ability to overcome today’s challenges. Today’s event has shown how an industry with a glorious past can look forward with confidence into the future. It has to ally its world-wide leadership in fashion with the use of new technologies to create innovative products serving the medical and health sectors, to transport, to building and to energy conservation to name just a few. The Conference has highlighted how European values in the social, ethical and environmental fields have progressed to the point where our health and safety levels and our environmental standards ensure that the consumer can purchase textile and apparel articles made in Europe with certainty that they comply with the highest ethical and safety standards. I am convinced that there is indeed growing consumer awareness on this issue”
The EURATEX President went on to add that the industry was nonetheless realistic in terms of the challenges it faced. He pointed out in his own address to the Conference that compliance with high EU standards inevitably placed European manufacturers at a disadvantage as compared to their foreign competitors, even on the EU market itself. The strong Euro and rapidly increasing energy costs coupled with a slowdown in demand in major markets would add to these difficulties in 2008. “Under such circumstances, it is crucial that events of the kind we have just held thanks to Vice-President VERHEUGEN should continue to stress the combination of values, fashion and technology which make Europe’s textile and apparel unique in the world. This recognition must go hand in hand with an overall policy framework in terms of IPR, training and commercial policy on the part of the authorities which encourages manufacturing activity and initiative” he concluded.
EURATEX represents the textile and apparel industry of the EU, of candidate countries to the EU, and its partner countries in the Mediterranean rim.
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For further information contact:
William LAKIN
Director General
e-mail : William.lakin@euratex.org
Phone : +32.2.285.48.81
Fax : +32.2.230.60.54