CEC says labels of origin will aid “recognition” of European shoes
22/01/2015
In January, CEC said concrete policy recommendations and new project ideas to reinforce the footwear sector in Europe had come out of the meeting, which took place with the support and the participation of the European Commission.
One recommendation is for tighter ties between the footwear production sector in Europe and educational establishments across the continent to promote skill development.
Perhaps the most important point to emerge from the discussion was that delegates insisted there was a link between compulsory labels of origin on shoes sold in the European Union and “the international recognition of the European footwear”.
Compulsory labels of origin on shoes, leathergoods and other products sold in the European Union appeared to have come a step nearer in April 2014 with a vote in the European Parliament in Strasbourg to approve the idea. Negotiations have continued between the European Commission (the EU’s executive) and the the Council of Ministers (which usually consists of the heads of government of the individual member states, who meet periodically to approve new EU legislation).
By the end of 2014, Italian footwear manufacturers’ association Assocalzaturifici was warning that the campaign to make it compulsory for brands and manufacturers to tell consumers in the European Union where their shoes are made had lost some momentum, although the matter is still under consideration.
All workshop conclusions and recommendations will be presented to a wider audience at a conference in Paris on March 27. All industry stakeholders are invited to take part in the conference.
Image: Shoes from Spain, Constanze Tillmann/GDS
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