The FoodDrinkEurope Competitiveness Report 2011 calls on policymakers in the EU to adopt a stronger stance on safeguarding its biggest asset -the Internal Market- in order to restore economic confidence in the Union and demonstrate the benefits of EU membership more concretely to its citizens.

The report highlights how Europe’s food and drink industry is still Europe’s first manufacturing industry but notes that the industry’s export market share worldwide continues to shrink, to the benefit of emerging economies, confirming trends over recent years.  There is also a need for higher investment in R&D to boost levels of innovation in Europe’s food and drink industry.

Europe’s food manufacturing business boasts an annual turnover of €954 billion and generates 4.2 million jobs (not to mention the jobs in related sectors).  As such, the industry is a strong pillar of the EU economy and can play an important role in helping to achieve the objectives set out under the EU 2020 Strategy to secure smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

To download a copy of the report, click here

To view the related press release, click here