CET holds its 2014 congress in Rome

The 2014 Executive Board meeting and AGM of CET, the Federation that brings together the associations of European manufacturers of ceramic flooring and floor coverings, were held in Rome on 26-28 June.

Organised by Confindustria Ceramica, the event was attended by around fifty representatives from Spain, France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Turkey, the UK, Finland and Sweden.

The meetings addressed key themes for the competitiveness of the European industrial ceramics sector such as the technical regulations connected with the manufacturing and use of the products (e.g. the Product Category Rules for product environmental statements, for which an agreement at continental level was reached), trade and non-trade barriers for accessing non-EU markets, free trade negotiations, including the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) for the creation of a single EU-US free trade area (for which the European federation unanimously agrees on the priority importance of eliminating the duties on US imports of European ceramics), and the review of the customs classification of products. During the examination of the economic climate, particular attention was focused on the effects of the anti-dumping measures on European imports of ceramic tiles from China, and there was also a close examination of the latest developments as regards important environmental and energy issues for the sector, such as carbon leakage and the Emissions Trading System.

During the meeting, having thanked the participants, chairman Vittorio Borelli underlined the "importance of European collaboration and how Rome was also the place where the Treaties that founded the European Economic Community were signed way back in 1957". Having thanked his predecessor Alfonso Panzani, Jose Lois Lanuza, chairman of CET, awarded him with a plaque to celebrate the results he achieved during his four-year presidency.

The meeting also had a cultural dimension with a private visit of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, a tour that was met with great enthusiasm and interest by all attendees.