On the sidelines of the OECD ministerial meeting, David Clarinval gave an exclusive interview to the leading French economic newspaper Les Echos. The Minister for the Economy shared his analysis of the current, sharply disrupted economic situation and of the need to strengthen our European industrial base. Excerpts.
“Europe can be proud to have an excellent system for protecting workers and a highly effective social security system. Be it in pensions, unemployment benefits or healthcare. We really have leading legislation, which we also try to promote to the rest of the world.”
“Between the year 2000 and today, overall, the added value contributed by industry in Belgium has fallen from around 20% to 13%. Almost halving in a quarter of a century is dramatic, and the proportions are similar for Europe. Companies and industries are the source of a virtuous circle, creating activity, jobs and wealth. This allows social security to have revenues and protect the weakest among us, while also enabling a standard of living in Europe worthy of the name. The disappearance of industry undermines all of that.”
“I am a liberal, and as such I want a fair market where competition is healthy and the rules are comparable. Without that, we have a rigged market where Europe loses market share and industries close down or relocate.”