Free trade, Green Claims, and customs clearance. At a time when the international context is putting pressure on demand for textiles and clothing, the European textile industry confederation Euratex is asking Brussels for greater clarity regarding European initiatives.

Euratex is making this request in conjunction with the Danish textile federation, Dansk Mode & Textil, on the occasion of the Danish presidency of the European Union. Eight issues are specifically singled out by industry representatives, who point out that current regulatory uncertainty discourages investors from investing.

“Our textile companies are faced with too much uncertainty,” said Euratex managing director, Dirk Vantyghem. “Although the EU cannot solve them alone, we expect the Danish Presidency to show leadership and move forward on these many urgent issues. We have no time to lose if we want to preserve the competitiveness of our industry.”

Euratex is asking Brussels to ensure that the future Circular Economy Act, which is supposed to harmonize green legislation in Europe, creates a genuine European market for end-of-life textiles. Euratex is also calling for an acceleration of the Waste Framework Directive, which should lay the foundations for EU-wide waste management. The textile industry is calling for an early end to the tax-free allowance for non-European parcels under 150 euros, a niche on which Shein and Temu thrive.

The textile industry is also calling for clarification of the future of the Green Claims directive, which is tasked with combating greenwashing. A text which, as FashionNetwork.com pointed out, is currently the subject of much confusion. The professionals are also calling for the rapid signature of the free-trade agreement with Mercosur, while calling for greater caution in ongoing discussions with India.

The energy aspect has not been forgotten, with Euratex calling for progress on the Energy Union project. This text should make energy more accessible to European manufacturers. The revision of the Reach regulation on the use of chemicals is also the subject of a call for greater efficiency and coherence. The confederation points out that this is to prevent companies from relocating outside the EU.