Lombardy wraps up successful term as head of the European Chemical Regions Network

Brussels – Lombardy consolidated its role as a leading region in the chemical industry at the European level, heading, since 2024, the European Chemical Regions Network (ECRN), the continental alliance of the most representative territories in the sector. 

The Region said in a statement that during the presidency of Regional Councillor Guido Guidesi, the network expanded from 10 to 21 members, “becoming a direct interlocutor of the European Commission in discussions to revitalize the sector and, at the same time, offering companies support in accessing European funding opportunities through participation in six EU projects that generated approximately 19 million euros in funding. Significant efforts have also been made to facilitate connections between different industrial districts, strengthening the capacity to ‘create a system’.” 

This, in short, is the outcome of the Lombardy presidency, which ended today in Rotterdam (Netherlands) during the ECRN assembly, during which the handover to Catalonia took place. However, Lombardy will continue to play a leading role, assuming the vice-presidency of the association with responsibility for the Critical Chemicals Alliance, the working group set up by the European Commission that is contributing to the development and implementation of the European Action Plan for the Chemical Industry. It is the only region with a formal role within this organisation. The goal is to protect competitiveness, investments, and production capacity in Lombardy and across Europe.

During his speech in Rotterdam for the handover, Councillor Guidesi reiterated that “without chemicals, the European economy has no future. Our task is to continue supporting the sector to make it more efficient and sustainable, but it is also our duty to defend its presence and improve the competitiveness of our companies. We have succeeded, through significant teamwork, in ensuring that the European Union has returned to focusing on a crucial sector, which cannot and must not be abandoned.”