Networking in the European Union

The ninth Euratex Convention was held in Antwerp on 8 and 9 November under the heading, “New paradigm for the European textiles and clothing companies”. What were the main topics under discussion?

Nina Bachmann: The key issue that was addressed in all presentations was sustainability, and in particular the concept of the circular economy. Because the EU is to make it compulsory for companies to take back textiles, it will be necessary to find suitable solutions. Here, it appears that everyone will have to rely on know-how transfer. Other key issues were the forwarding of data via the supply chain and the digitalisation of processes, which of course have a direct connection with the circular economy.

So does this mean we’re all sitting in the same boat, or are there issues that are specific to regions?

Jasmin Schmid: This is context-related. With respect to customs clearance, Switzerland’s textiles and clothing sector often faces difficulties that many EU companies are not confronted with, or which only concern those EU companies that trade with Switzerland. The reason for this is that Switzerland is strongly embedded in the European textiles supply chain. While there are no longer any tariff barriers within the EU, when goods cross the border from the EU into Switzerland (and vice versa) they are always subject to customs clearance. By contrast, with respect to efforts to eliminate trade barriers in markets outside the EU (e.g. Saudi Arabia), both sides share the same concerns and priorities.

Nina Bachmann: As far as topics relating to sustainability are concerned, yes – we’re all sitting in the same boat. Here, harmonisation with the EU beyond borders is clearly expedient, and fortunately both sides share this view.

How often are you in contact with the members of Euratex?

Jasmin Schmid: We are frequently in contact with its members. Exchanges by e-mail on specific topics take place at least every two weeks. Physical or virtual meetings are held at various levels (executive board, management, committees, work groups) at least twice a year. Swiss Textiles also organises exchanges with some members of Euratex every six weeks or so, in particular with the federations representing companies in the textiles and clothing sectors in northern Europe. They share our views and interests in almost every area, and also support us in matters relating specifically to Switzerland.

What are the specific benefits of our cooperation with Euratex?

Nina Bachmann: For example, we were able to submit the concerns of our members in the field of chemicals policy directly to the EU Commission via Euratex. The EU Commission noted these concerns, but how it will respond to them remains to be seen, of course. In both EU and Swiss policy, a compromise ultimately has to be found between the involved interest groups. In addition, one of the main benefits concerns the ability to directly exchange information. With the introduction of the “Green Deal”, there is an enormous amount of activity in the EU regarding environment and supply chain policy. Here, Euratex helps us maintain an overview and filter out those aspects that are of importance for our industry.

Jasmin Schmid: For us, cooperation with Euratex has resulted in privileged access to the EU Commission, even though we are non-members of the EU. The paths between business and administration are longer in the EU than in Switzerland. Euratex facilitates direct access for us to the relevant contacts in the EU Commission. At the last meeting of the Euratex Trade and Single Market Committee, for example, we were able to address our concerns regarding the revised Pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) Convention (including the intended transparency between the existing and the revised PEM rules of origin) directly to the relevant member of the EU Commission.

At the Euratex Convention were there any specific initiatives that will now be launched and to which we will also make a contribution?

Nina Bachmann: Yes. At a small round table of experts the (declining) quality of textiles was discussed that is giving rise to various problems. Here the main focus was on the practical question of how the quality of textiles can be measured. It became apparent that many federations possess older documents in which quality criteria are defined. Although these are outdated, companies nonetheless continue to demand them. It was therefore proposed that uniform criteria should be created. Ultimately, the standardisation of criteria is necessary in order for the term “durability” – which will play a major role in the circular economy – to be uniformly applied. This topic will be tabled at the next Euratex meeting and discussed for the first time. It is important to ensure that standardisation will not give rise to any test costs for small and medium-sized companies. We will have to wait and see what form the solution will take.