Last week, the Parliament voted in favour of a resolution calling for stronger market surveillance, strengthened customs controls, and quicker enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA) in cases of non-compliance.
This marks the first political acknowledgement that enforcement in the sector must match the magnitude of existing problems.
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The vote follows months of effort by Euratex and its members, including making a statement against ultra-fast fashion in Paris, calling for fair and safe e-commerce, and holding meetings with Commission officials alongside consumers, retailers, and trade unions.
Although progress has been made, there are also new problems. Postal services in countries like Poland, France, and Italy are working with online platforms such as Temu to speed up the delivery of packages that often avoid EU rules.
This situation makes it harder for European businesses that follow the rules to compete and can put consumers at risk.
These ongoing challenges are reflected in recent industry figures. In the first half of 2025, textile production in Europe declined by 1.9%, while clothing production fell by 5%.
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By GlobalDataEmployment decreased by up to 5% in textiles and 3% in clothing. During the same period, imports rose by 7.7% for textiles and 12.3% for clothing, while European exports declined.
Euratex warns that without decisive and coherent action from Member States and EU institutions, Europe’s own standards risk becoming “meaningless” and a key industrial ecosystem could decline.
To address these challenges, Euratex is proposing to end the exemption of de minimis, ensure that customs and value added tax (VAT) rules are applied to all, and that safety rules apply to all imports. It is also calling for faster enforcement of the Digital Services Act so that foreign ultra-fast fashion companies do not have unfair advantages.
Euratex president Mario Jorge Machado said: “We welcome the European Parliament’s vote, but the real test starts today. Member states and the EU need to accelerate the adoption of necessary tools and legislation, to restore a level playing field and maintain a competitive European textile industry.”
