Italia–France: Urso meets Martin, with a focus on the automotive sector, the origin of goods and scrap metal

Video conference between the two ministers

(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Italia and France join forces on the automotive sector, single market transparency and scrap metal. The Minister for Enterprise and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, and the French Minister Delegate for Industry, Sébastien Martin, discussed these issues via video link during their eighth meeting since December 2025. “Cooperation between Italia and France is now more crucial than ever for the revival of European industry,” commented Urso, citing the recognition of the ‘Made in Europe’ principle in the Act for Industrial Acceleration and the restrictions on the export of ferrous scrap. On the automotive sector, Urso emphasised the strategic role of the ‘Made in Europe’ requirements and the need to translate the proposals from Italia, France and Germany into an effective and sustainable regulatory framework, welcoming Paris’s steps to steer the Commission’s proposal towards technological neutrality. On the issue of transparency, the Italian-French non-paper calling for a European obligation to indicate the country of origin for imported goods was endorsed: it will be proposed to the other Member States and presented to the Competitiveness Council on 3 December, ahead of the Commission’s European Product Act. Urso also highlighted the revitalisation of the household appliances sector and greater protection for the fashion industry, through joint efforts to combat ‘ultra-fast fashion’ and work on the tax on non-EU parcels; finally, he outlined the non-papers on ferrous scrap and electronic waste, proposing a joint initiative to urge Brussels to guarantee the supply of these materials – a strategic resource for the decarbonisation of the steel industry – and calling for Paris’s support.

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