As European manufacturing policies evolve, it is vital that the craft sector is not left behind. The Craft and Industrial Geographical Indications Expert Working Group has published a formal response to the European Commission regarding the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act. While the legislation aims to bolster European production through its new Made in Europe initiative, it currently overlooks the structural importance of regional craft ecosystems. Read the full position paper below to understand why formal recognition and updated public procurement frameworks are essential for the sustainable future of the sector.
Position Paper
Recognising Crafts and Geographical Indications in the “Made in Europe” Initiative of the Industrial Accelerator Act
Craft & Industrial Geographical Indications Expert Working Group | March 2026
Introduction
The Craft & Industrial Geographical Indications Expert Working Group welcomes the European Commission’s proposal for an Industrial Accelerator Act aimed at strengthening Europe’s industrial base, boosting competitiveness and supporting job creation across the Union.
The proposed “Made in Europe” initiative, including provisions related to public procurement and demand-side measures, is a key instrument to reinforce European production, strengthen industrial resilience and promote sustainable manufacturing.
However, the proposal currently focuses mainly on large-scale industrial sectors but does not explicitly recognise crafts as part of Europe’s manufacturing ecosystem. This represents a missed opportunity. Craft production and GI-protected craft products embody many of the objectives that the Act seeks to promote: local production, resilient supply chains, sustainable practices and high-quality European manufacturing rooted in regional know-how.
Why Crafts and GIs Matter for the Objectives of the Act
- Strengthening local industrial ecosystems: Craft enterprises are embedded in regional production systems and contribute to diversified and resilient local economies. Recognising crafts within the “Made in Europe” initiative would reinforce territorial cohesion and local value chains.
- Supporting high-quality European manufacturing: Craft production relies on specialised skills, traditional know-how and high-quality materials, generating significant added value. They complement larger-scale industry, enhance Europe’s reputation for manufacturing excellence, and often create premium products with higher local value-added.
- Contributing to sustainability objectives: Craft production often relies on short supply chains, local resources and durable products, which align closely with the Act’s ambition to support sustainable and future-ready production systems.
- Creating skilled employment: Craft enterprises generate local, skilled jobs, including apprenticeships and knowledge transmission, supporting employment and skills development in many regions across Europe. For example, small-scale craft SMEs are major local employers in many rural and peripheral regions and play a key role in vocational training and intergenerational skills transfer.
The Role of Geographical Indications for Craft and Industrial Products
The EU framework for Geographical Indications for craft and industrial products provides a system to protect products whose qualities are linked to a specific place and specialised know-how.
GI-protected products provide traceability, verified origin and strong links to regional economies, making them a natural component of the “Made in Europe” approach. They also generate measurable economic benefits, including price premiums, tourism spillovers and enhanced regional branding, particularly when effectively enforced and promoted.
Recognising GI products within the Act would strengthen the credibility of the initiative and ensure that authentic European production systems are effectively supported.
Public Procurement as a Strategic Lever
Public procurement plays a key role in shaping demand for European-made products. Craft and GI sectors are particularly relevant in areas such as:
- Heritage restoration and conservation
- Public and cultural infrastructure
- Traditional materials and specialised manufacturing
- Design and high-quality public space equipment
Allowing contracting authorities to consider craft production and GI certification would support local economies while ensuring high-quality outcomes in public projects. In practice, procurement templates and award criteria should allow for the consideration of documented origin, GI certification, local value added, sustainability, and demonstrable traditional know-how, where this is proportionate and compliant with non-discrimination principles.
Recommendations
The Craft & Industrial Geographical Indications Expert Working Group recommends that the Industrial Accelerator Act:
- Explicitly recognise crafts and GI-protected products as part of Europe’s manufacturing ecosystem, in the Act’s definitions.
- Include crafts and GI products within the “Made in Europe” initiative, particularly in demand-side measures and procurement frameworks.
- Ensure that public procurement mechanisms can take into account origin, traditional know-how and GI schemes and certification.
- Guarantee that SMEs and small manufacturing actors, including craft enterprises, can benefit from the measures foreseen in the Act.
Conclusion
To fully achieve its objectives of industrial resilience, sustainability and quality job creation, the Industrial Accelerator Act should reflect the full diversity of Europe’s manufacturing landscape.
Recognising craft sectors and GI-protected craft products within the “Made in Europe” initiative would strengthen regional economies, support sustainable production and promote the distinctive value of European manufacturing.
The GI on Crafts Expert Working Group therefore calls on the Commission and the co-legislators to take these recommendations forward, including through clear procurement guidance, targeted SME support measures, and an appropriate implementation and monitoring framework within the final Act.
About
The Craft & Industrial Geographical Indications Expert Working Group was established in January 2024 and is coordinated by the European Crafts Alliance (ECA) and the Fédération Française des Indications Géographiques Industrielles et Artisanales (FFIGIA). The working group is chaired by the two countries with experience in implementing GI protection systems for CI products: Portugal (Cristina Mendes, CEARTE) and France (Fabrice Descombes, FFIGIA).
The group is joined by: Pierres et Marbres de Wallonie, Italian Confederation of Craft Trades and Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (CNA), Donegal Tweed Association, Centro per l’Artigianato Artistico e Tradizionale della Toscana (ARTEX), and Centro de Formação Profissional para o Artesanato e Património (CEARTE).
Contact
secretariat(at)europeancraftsalliance.org
a.aubard(at)ffigia.fr