While Michelin announced this week the closure of two of its sites in France, other industrial sites would find themselves in a hot spot. “Probably in the coming weeks and months there will be announcements of site closures,” warned Industry Minister Marc Ferracci into the microphone of FranceInter SATURDAY.
“There are some sectors that find themselves in worrying situations” and “cases of companies in difficulty”, warned the minister, referring to chemicals, the automotive sector, equipment manufacturers and even metallurgy. There are “sectors subject to very strong international competition, not always very fair”, according to Marc Ferracci.
The minister estimated that the social budget “will be counted in thousands of jobs”, specifying that he cannot provide precise figures because “there is a fight on every issue”. “The state’s position is to always try to find buyers for the site,” he insisted, reiterating that the government’s priority is to find “private” buyers. If there is none, the State will try to “best support the employees and the revitalization of the site”.
“An emergency plan” on a European scale
Faced with this situation, Marc Ferracci recommends a European response, in particular to support the automotive sector. “With the Minister of Economy, Antoine Armand, we will talk about this emergency plan on a European scale. We are developing proposals that we will present to the Brussels Commission and our European partners, to have an approach to support the European automotive industry,” he said.
“The value chains are fully integrated. You have suppliers in Germany for manufacturers who are in France, and you have suppliers in France for manufacturers who are in Germany. Trade protection against Chinese vehicles must be designed at European level,” he said.
Among the measures cited, he cited “an ecological bonus on a European scale”, a ”common European loan” to finance “support mechanisms” for the sector, ensuring that “starting from the first half of 2025, the European Commission said it would be I will prioritize clean industrial act, that is, European legislation on clean industry in which we will be able to implement a certain number of measures”.
The annoyed minister
On France Inter, Marc Ferracci was also asked about his trip the day before to the Michelin site in Cholet (Maine-et-Loire), promised to close, where he was insulted by employees in difficulty. “I was booed, I expected this type of reaction,” he assured. He remained in front of the factory for only a few minutes.
“The employees are upset, angry, we can understand it because the way the announcement was made to the employees was not dignified,” complained the Minister of Industry, adding that ”the management did not come to do the announcement live and see eye to eye. I think it’s a shame. » More than 1,250 jobs are at risk.
“Beyond this, he described contacts with the group’s local elected representatives and trade unions as “very constructive”. On this ”extremely difficult” issue, Marc Ferracci assured that the “commitment” of the State, and “it is also that of Michelin” according to him, “is that no one is left without a solution”.
Interview with Marc Ferracci: Challenges and Opportunities for French Industry
Time.news Editor: Welcome, Marc Ferracci. Thank you for joining us today. This week, Michelin announced the closure of two sites in France, and you mentioned that there could be more announcements coming. Could you elaborate on the current industrial climate in France?
Marc Ferracci: Thank you for having me. Yes, the news from Michelin is quite concerning, but it reflects a broader trend within various sectors in France. Industries such as chemicals, automotive, equipment manufacturing, and metallurgy are all facing significant challenges. Many of these sectors are under immense pressure due to intense international competition, which, I must add, is not always fair.
Time.news Editor: You spoke about the potential loss of thousands of jobs. How does the government plan to address this situation, especially if buyers for these sites cannot be found?
Marc Ferracci: The government’s priority is to find private buyers for the distressed sites. If a buyer cannot be identified, we will focus on supporting the employees and revitalizing the site in question. It’s important to understand that we are in a fight for every job and every company that is at risk of closure.
Time.news Editor: You mentioned an “emergency plan” on a European scale, especially to support the automotive sector. Can you share more about that?
Marc Ferracci: Absolutely. We believe that a coordinated European response is essential. The automotive industry is particularly interlinked across borders, with suppliers and manufacturers collaborating across countries. We plan to present proposals to the Brussels Commission and our European partners to address these challenges collectively.
Time.news Editor: What specific measures are you considering for supporting the automotive sector at this European level?
Marc Ferracci: We are looking at several initiatives. For instance, we propose an ecological bonus on a European scale and a common European loan to finance support mechanisms for the sector. Additionally, the European Commission has indicated that starting from the first half of 2025, they will prioritize a clean industrial act, which will allow us to implement various supportive measures for sustainable industrial practices.
Time.news Editor: With trade protection being a point of discussion, especially concerning competition from Chinese vehicles, how do you envision a cohesive strategy at the European level?
Marc Ferracci: The key is to design trade protection measures collaboratively. Given that our industries are integrated—where suppliers operate in one country while manufacturers are in another—we need a unified approach to safeguard our markets. Without a cohesive strategy, individual countries may struggle to protect their industries effectively.
Time.news Editor: what message would you like to convey to workers and communities affected by these industrial challenges in France?
Marc Ferracci: I want to assure them that the government is actively engaged in seeking solutions, and we are fully committed to helping employees and communities. We understand the uncertainty and fear that comes with potential job losses, and we are doing everything possible to mitigate these impacts through supportive measures and an effort to revitalize the industries.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Marc, for your insights. It sounds like there are challenging times ahead, but also a commitment to collaborative solutions. We appreciate your time today.
Marc Ferracci: Thank you for having me. It’s imperative that we remain proactive and united to navigate these challenges effectively.