The appeal follows a joint statement from the Antwerp Declaration Community at the European Industry Summit, where over 500 business leaders, 30 factory workers, and senior officials including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, gathered in Antwerp under the patronage of Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever.
The summit brought together key figures such as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, executive vice-presidents Teresa Ribera and Stéphane Séjourné, as well as Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra.
Participants at the event called for a coordinated policy response that would lower energy and carbon expenses, ensure compliance with trade rules through robust enforcement mechanisms, and stimulate demand for products manufactured within the EU.
Proposals included leveraging public procurement and increasing supply chain transparency to empower buyers.
The textile and fashion sector in Europe comprises 200,000 businesses and employs 1.3 million people across the continent.
This industry manufactures textiles not only for apparel but also for technical applications in fields such as medicine, automotive, and defence.
High energy costs and an influx of non-compliant goods entering the EU via online platforms are creating significant challenges for responsible manufacturers in the sector.
According to industry representatives, these pressures have contributed to rising closures among member states as low-quality imports undercut domestic producers.
Euratex president Mario Jorge Machado emphasised that Europe should prioritise concrete steps that strengthen domestic demand for sustainable products while ensuring foreign goods meet established EU standards.
Machado said: “Europe must regain confidence and pride in what it produces, and stimulate demand for high-quality and sustainable textiles made in Europe. This requires three concrete actions: public procurement that goes beyond price and reflects origin, sustainability and security for strategic textiles; increased transparency, feasible for SMEs; and effective market surveillance to stop non-compliant imports from dominating the market.”
