The Minister for Industry, who came to Cholet to meet elected officials and Michelin employees, defends European measures to restore competitiveness.
There is an urgent need to revive the European automobile industry. Visiting Cholet (Maine-et-Loire) to meet local elected officials and Michelin union representatives, Minister Delegate for Industry Marc Ferracci declared that France would propose to Brussels an emergency plan in favor of European automobile industry: support for demand, investments, commercial protection measures in favor of manufacturers, equipment manufacturers, subcontractors, etc. This declaration had already been made to the National Assembly by the Minister for Industry .
https://video.lefigaro.fr/figaro/video/filiere-automobile-marc-ferracci-plaide-pour-un-plan-durgence-francais-et-europeen/
While Donald Trump promises new measures to protect the American automobile industry and China is able to quickly respond to customs taxes on electric vehicles Made in China, Europe appears disunited and disarmed. Whether it concerns aid for the purchase of electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, taxation, the European Union forms a disparate and fragile whole. Will the 27 be able to agree on common measures while social plans are multiplying in the automobile industry in Germany, France, Belgium and Italy? Especially since budgetary constraints restrict States' room for maneuver.
The bonus envelope reduced to 700 million
In France, Luc Chatel, the president of the automobile platform, the organization which represents companies in the automobile sector, even asked the Prime Minister to “maintain a sustained level” assistance with the purchase of electric vehicles. “The very sharp reduction in the envelope dedicated to the bonus which would be divided by more than half, going from 1.5 billion to 700 million euros, would inevitably result in a fall in sales» he wrote to Michel Barnier last Monday.
In Cholet, the anger of the employees mobilized since the announcement of the factory closure was palpable. After a round table with union representatives, those of the Cholet Chamber of Commerce, France Travail and Medef, the Minister of Industry listened to employees. One of them addressed him by saying that Michelin in France only offered “crumbs » to employees. “My commitment is that there should be no crumbs on compensation, supralegal matters, reclassification measures.“, he replied when an employee retorted “We want to keep our jobs!”
Marc Ferracci highlighted the substantial commitments requested by the government from Michelin: support for employees, reclassification measures, etc.
https://video.lefigaro.fr/figaro/video/accompagnement-des-salaries-creation-demploi-marc-ferracci-detaille-trois-engagements-pris-par-michelin-1/
These commitments had already been made by Michelin. The group has planned a provision of 330 million euros in its accounts to support the 1,254 employees of the two factories (Cholet and Vannes) and revitalize the employment areas. The tire giant has also committed to creating at least as many jobs as those eliminated in these two sites. Promises far removed from the immediate concerns of suspended employees.
