Euratex welcomes EU Parliament move to tackle ‘broken’ textile, clothing system

Core Points - The European Parliament has voted in favor of a resolution for stronger market surveillance and quicker enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA) to address compliance issues in the textile and clothing sectors [1][6] - Euratex has been actively advocating for fair e-commerce practices and has highlighted the challenges posed by ultra-fast fashion and non-compliance with EU regulations [2][5] - Recent industry figures indicate a decline in textile and clothing production in Europe, with imports increasing significantly, which poses competitive challenges for compliant European businesses [3][4] Group 1 - The resolution from the European Parliament marks a political acknowledgment of the need for enforcement that matches the scale of existing problems in the textile and clothing sectors [1] - Euratex's efforts included public statements and meetings with various stakeholders to address the issues of ultra-fast fashion and the need for fair e-commerce [2][6] - The decline in textile production by 1.9% and clothing production by 5% in the first half of 2025, alongside a rise in imports, reflects ongoing challenges for the industry [3] Group 2 - Euratex warns that without decisive action from EU institutions, European standards may become ineffective, risking the decline of a key industrial ecosystem [4] - Proposed measures by Euratex include ending the de minimis exemption and ensuring that customs and VAT rules apply uniformly to all imports [5] - The president of Euratex emphasizes the importance of accelerating legislative actions to restore competitiveness in the European textile industry [6]