We want to protect our citizens' health and the environment but we also want to support innovation stimulating the economy and increasing our competitiveness on the global market. Adam Struzik, President of the Mazovia Region and CoR rapporteur on the Chemicals strategy made these remarks during an Online Stakeholder Consultation on the EU Chemicals Strategy.
In his introductory remarks Struzik said that his opinion aims to promote interregional cooperation along sustainable value chains to accelerate the development of joint investment projects. He said that skills in the sector must be improved so that they can be used for the purpose of the green transition. The rapporteur also spoke about the development and implementation of infrastructure to enable the use, transport and storage of electricity from renewable sources for chemical production. Struzik also outlined the need to invest in sustainable innovation to disinfect waste streams, increase recycling and to limit disposal of waste.
Ms Élise Vitali, Policy Officer, European Environmental Bureau said that LRAs can help in the implementation of ambitious commitments included in the chemical strategy and called on the CoR to support these ambitions. She said that strategy is a great tool protection for health and the environment. On the other hand, she criticised the lack of commitment to implement existing principles including the polluters pay principle, the precautionary principle and the tackling pollution at source principle.
Ms Monika Bańka, Network and Policy Coordinator at the European Chemical Regions Network said that better regulation will reduce regulatory burden and will support EU competiveness, support investment and innovation. She called for investment in the digitalisation of the chemical industry describing it as key for management of resources and circularity. Supporting the arguments of Mr. Struzik, Bańka said that up-skilling and re-skilling the chemical industry operators is key for improving sectoral competitiveness.
In his concluding remarks, Struzik said that we need to look for new raw bio-based materials for chemical production.