"A strategy in support of the car industry", so that "vehicles can still be manufactured at affordable prices". This is one of the goals set out by a note adopted by the EU Commission today, which includes a reduction in the administrative load, measures for the protection of the environment and road safety, measures for the foreign markets and the developments of research. The EU plan, which aroused quite a few doubts and opposition in the economic and environmentalist worlds, intends to support an essential branch of the economy of the 27 member states, which "accounts for 3% of the Gross Domestic Product of the EU and 7% of employment in the manufacturing field". Such "strategy" was revealed today in Brussels by the head of the Executive, José Manuel Barroso, who said: "The car industries are at the heart of our economies. By taking up the challenge of climate change, they will become more competitive in the long run. It is a crucial point for consumers and workers alike". The deputy president of the Commission, Günter Verheugen, added: "We have found the right balance between the need to stand up to worldwide competition and the need to make progress in the area of safety and environmental protection". (to be continued)
