Euratex, on its 20th anniversary - hosted an international conference 'Best in Partnerships' devoted to inter-sectoral partnerships to boost European manufacturing. The European Apparel and Textile Confederation (Euratex), is the voice of the textile and clothing industry in Europe.

In her key note address, said Elzbieta Bienkowska, European Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, said that textile and fashion industry is a strategic sector in the EU and is performing well. The European Commission is undertaking a number of actions to meet three main challenges of the sector: innovation, international competition and skills shortage.

She underlined that European institutions are expecting full engagement of industry, because knowledge about companies' needs should drive the development of new policies and programmes.

Meanwhile, Euratex's President Serge Piolat said with textile and fashion sector appreciating the European Commission's is more willing to build a dialogue with the industry. Euratex proposed concrete action plan to the European Commission to strengthen internationalisation of SMEs, assure fair conditions for the European companies through stricter market surveillance, provide better access for SMEs to EU research funds and boost innovation investments at regional level through RegioTex initiative.