Next generation Europe should be green and circular

By Nicholas Hodac, UNESDA Director General
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the essential nature of Europe’s food and drink industry into sharp focus. Despite the challenges of lockdowns and border closures over recent months, the sector has managed to maintain supply and ensure that the EU’s 450 million citizens continue to be fed and refreshed. Europe’s non-alcoholic beverages sector is a local industry, working with local suppliers, farmers and bottling plants, and we have many thousands of people to thank for making sure that our production and supply continues to be maintained.
Europe’s Industrial Strategy – empowering industry and SMEs
UNESDA believes that the new long-term strategy for Europe’s industrial future strategy can serve as the crucial element that links the EU Green Deal and the growth agenda and supports European industry to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The strategy, launched by the European Commission in March 2020, looks to drive green and digital transformations that will empower industry and SMEs and we look forward to working alongside the EU institutions as they refine and begin to implement the strategy.
