​During the ECON committee meeting on 23 January Mr Tadeusz Truskolaski, EA Coordinator for this Commission and Mayor of Białystok responded to the debate on the European Strategy for Industry. "Local and Regional Authorities have important powers and competences in policy areas such as research and innovation, education and skills, export support, infrastructure, SMEs and regulation and they must get involved in deciding on strategic areas where it is important to screen foreign direct investment", stressed Mr Truskolaski and asked for a particular emphasis to be given to diversification and innovation of EU enterprises underlying the role of SMEs in the European Strategy for Industry.

"There is a need to limit access of social dumping to EU market. A good solution would be also to apply certain import limits. Innovation in different mechanisms, start-ups, scale-ups, SMEs and other are highly recommended to protect our industry" added Mr Truskolaski.