A rallying cry has today been issued to tanners across Europe, urging them to make their views known at an upcoming European Commission conference on the future of the industry.

Issued by G. Gonzalez-Quijano, Secretary General the European tanners’ association COTANCE, the statement calls for as many tanners as possible to attend ‘The EU Leather and Tanning Industry and Sustainable Development’ conference, which will be held in Brussels three weeks from now, on May 27.  

As its title indicates, the conference will be focused on the issue of the sustainability, not just in terms of the environment, but the social and economic sustainability of the industry besides.

To be opened by Commissioner Errki Liikanen, Member of the European Commission, responsible for Enterprise, the conference will bring together representatives from the Commission, old and new Member states, the three candidate countries, members of the European Parliament and other EU institutions.  COTANCE is hoping as many representatives of the tanning industry will also be present.

“Europe's leather industry is facing an unprecedented long economic decline and many people ask themselves whether there is a future at all for the leather industry,” commented Mr Gonzalez Quijano. “This conference should identify the key problems and also the key solutions that should flow into an action plan that will guide our public authorities. Commissioner Liikanen expects to hear from our industry on what needs to be done. The more industry people that attend therefore, the more impact our presence will have.”

The conference will be translated simultaneously into Italian, Spanish, English, French and German.  Further information from Outi Niiranen the Enterprise Directorate General department of the European Commission. Tell 0032 2295 2428, e-mail: outi.niiranen@cec.eu.int.

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