Europe's chemical industry is a strategic foundation of the European economy, supplying essential inputs to industrial ecosystems ranging from pharmaceuticals, clean technologies and construction to defence, mobility, food systems and digital technologies. Today, however, the sector faces unprecedented challenges. High energy and carbon costs, global overcapacity, growing international competition, declining demand, investment leakage, geopolitical instability and regulatory uncertainty are putting Europe's industrial base under significant pressure.
Against this backdrop and ahead of the Critical Chemicals Alliance (CCA) General Assembly (08 October 2026), the European social partners in the chemical industry – industriAll Europe and ECEG – call for a strong integration of the social and skills dimensions into Europe's strategic approach to chemicals. The transformation of the sector can only succeed if it supports both industrial capacity and the highly skilled workforce that makes Europe a global leader.
The joint statement lists 6 main joint priorities for action:
- Include the social dimension in the Critical Chemicals Alliance, as a fundamental step to strengthen Europe's industrial resilience and strategic autonomy.
- Preserve strategic chemical sites and industrial value chains in Europe, while reducing dependencies and strengthening European economic security.
- Ensure safe chemical sites and healthy workplaces, as a core shared responsibility of employers and workers.
- Strengthen Social Dialogue and anticipation of change.
- Deliver a European Skills Agenda for the chemical industry to support chemical companies access the talent they need, while enabling workers to develop the competences required for the future jobs.
- Create a stable and coherent regulatory framework.
With this joint statement, ECEG and industriAll Europe express their committed to working together through the sectoral social dialogue to support a competitive, innovative and sustainable chemical industry that provides quality jobs and long-term industrial opportunities in Europe.
At the same time, they call on European institutions, Member States and all stakeholders to work with the social partners in developing a comprehensive strategy that safeguards strategic chemical production, strengthens industrial competitiveness, protects workers from social and environmental dumping, advances the green transition and secures the future of Europe's workers and industrial sites.
The European chemical industry stands at a crossroads. Europe can retain its leadership in chemicals, sustainability and innovation, but only if urgent and coordinated action is taken. A strong chemical industry needs strong companies, strong workers, strong social dialogue and strong industrial policies. Europe must deliver all four.