The threshold on public money
The March proposal would have a company that wants public money in strategic sectors such as cars and clean energy buy European. On Thursday Industry Minister Sebastien Martin said Europeans' public money should support European workers and European factories. Economy Minister Katherina Reiche asked for manufacturing to stay in Europe while still relying on partners such as Norway, Switzerland and Canada.[1]
Brussels wants a wider door for products from dozens of countries linked by a free-trade agreement, a customs union or a public-procurement deal. Belgian minister David Clarinval did not want a closed list. He gave Britain, Switzerland, Canada and South Korea as examples of countries that play by the rules.[1]
A text not yet adopted
The proposal does not become law until the European Parliament and the capitals agree. Ireland, which holds the presidency, wants the 27 to settle on a common approach. The compromise being explored would tailor the Made in Europe definition by sector or even by product. That split cuts which factory may enter a public tender by the product's place, not by the country's name.[1]
German lawmaker Anna Cavazzini and French lawmakers Christophe Grudler and Pierre Jouvet are due to present their amendments on Monday. Poland's Michal Baranowski said it is too early to say whether Britain, Australia, Japan or Switzerland would be included. He added that the new rules should not create a bureaucratic burden for companies that ought to be supported.[1]
The binding step is the list
A bidder's access to public money changes in the origin test of the text that gets adopted, not in Thursday's speeches. Martin's line on the 27 members and Reiche's partner list are two answers to the same threshold. Narrowing the rule sector by sector could shrink the list product by product without a break between Paris and Berlin. Which countries stay inside becomes visible when the Council text names them.[1]