From the Sector

EDANA, alongside 14 European associations, urges the European Commission and Member States to adopt a pragmatic approach for the future harmonised packaging labels, in line with the EU’s agenda for the EU Single Market, simplification and competitiveness. The system should rely on text-free pictograms, available in achromatic or monochromatic versions matching the packaging palette, with the possibility of using digital labelling as a core element. 

The associations represent manufacturers of consumer goods across Europe. Their products are used by millions of Europeans to care for themselves, their families, and their homes. At the heart of this relationship lies trust, built over time through product safety, quality and performance, and maintained through clear and reliable communication with consumers. 

In fast-moving retail environments, product labelling plays a critical role as the primary interface between manufacturers and consumers. Clear and recognisable labels are essential visual cues that enable consumers to quickly identify products, understand their characteristics, and make informed choices. Preserving this clarity is fundamental, particularly as mandatory information on packs becomes increasingly complex, with the risk of consumer confusion and information overload.

The EURATEX General Assembly has re-elected Mario Jorge Machado as President of EURATEX, renewing its confidence in his leadership at a crucial moment for the European textile and clothing industry. The sector is facing rising costs, global competitive pressure and an increasingly challenging transition towards sustainability and digitalisation. 

With a degree in Production Polymer Engineering from the University of Minho, Mario Jorge Machado brings extensive industrial experience and a strong commitment to innovation, competitiveness and sustainable transformation. 

Upon his re-election, Mario Jorge Machado said:
“My priority for this new mandate is clear: to strengthen the competitiveness of our industry, ensure that the same rules apply to all products sold in Europe, and support our companies through the green and digital transition. Europe must decarbonise its industry, not deindustrialise it.” 

Three priorities for the new mandate

1. Competitiveness as the foundation
Mario Jorge Machado has made clear that competitiveness must be the starting point for any successful industrial policy. In his recent Brussels address, he stressed that without competitiveness there can be no investment, no innovation, no sustainability and no strategic autonomy. He will therefore continue to push for a stronger business environment for textile companies, with support for investment in automation, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, skills and innovation, especially for SMEs. 

2. A genuine level playing field
A second key priority is to ensure that the same rules apply to everything sold in Europe, not only to what is made in Europe. Mario Jorge Machado has repeatedly called for stronger market surveillance, better border enforcement and more effective control of imports sold through digital platforms, so that European companies are not put at a disadvantage against products that bypass EU safety, environmental and consumer rules. EURATEX will continue to advocate for equal enforcement, fair competition and a market where compliance is rewarded. 

3. Supporting industry through the transition
Mario Jorge Machado also wants to ensure that the green and digital transition strengthens European industry rather than weakening it. He has underlined that sustainability must become a source of competitiveness, not a burden, and that companies need realistic rules, affordable energy, workable implementation and targeted support to adapt successfully. He has also stressed the importance of stimulating demand for sustainable European-made textiles, including through public procurement and transparency tools that are feasible for companies. 

Presidency Team
The General Assembly also confirmed the composition of the EURATEX Presidency Team, which will support the President in steering the organisation’s strategic direction:

• Mr. Franz Peter Falke, T+M, Germany
• Ms. Barbara Cimmino, Confindustria Moda, Italy
• Mr. Ismail Kolunsag, IHKIB, Türkiye 
• Mr. Grégory Marchand, UIT, France 

The workshop dedicated to Italian technologies for the textile industry, held in Cairo on 5 and 6 May 2026 and focusing on the most advanced innovative solutions for the sector, has come to a close. The initiative saw the participation of 23 Italian companies from the textile machinery sector and well over 120 Egyptian operators, confirming the mutual interest in strengthening industrial collaboration between the two countries and Egypt’s strategic role for Italian textile machinery manufacturers.

Organised by ICE Agency and ACIMIT, with the support of the Italian Embassy in Cairo and UNIDO, the workshop provided an important opportunity to discuss the development prospects of the Egyptian textile sector and the contribution that Italian technology can make to the country’s industrial modernisation processes.

The Italian textile machinery industry is internationally recognised as a leading benchmark for technology, innovation and quality. Italian companies in the sector stand out for their ability to offer advanced and sustainable solutions, valued by textile manufacturers worldwide for their reliability, efficiency and high technological content. During the event, the importance of technology transfer and specialist training was highlighted as key to supporting the competitive development of the Egyptian textile industry in the medium to long term.

According to data from ACIMIT, Italian exports of textile machinery to Egypt reached €72 million in 2025, confirming the country as the leading African market for the Italian textile machinery sector. The technologies most in demand among Egyptian operators relate in particular to finishing, weaving and spinning.

“Egypt is now one of the most dynamic and strategic markets for our sector,” said Marco Salvadè, President of ACIMIT. “The strong participation of Italian companies in the Cairo workshop demonstrates the desire to further strengthen industrial collaboration between the two countries. Italian technologies can make a tangible contribution to the competitiveness of the Egyptian textile industry, particularly in processes focused on quality, sustainability and production efficiency. The Cairo workshop is also part of a wider programme of initiatives aimed at promoting Italy’s presence at ITMA Hannover 2027, the world’s leading event dedicated to textile and clothing technologies, where Italian companies will once again showcase the best of textile machinery innovation.”

The initiative, promoted by ICE Agency and ACIMIT with the valuable support of the Italian Embassy in Cairo and UNIDO, featured the following Italian companies: Cubotex, Color Service, Corino Macchine, Danitech Engineering And Solutions, Dover Industries Italy, Erhardt Piu’ Leimer, Itema, L.A.I.P., Lawer, Marzoli Machines Textile, M.C.S. Officina Meccanica, Mesdan, Monti – Mac, Nexia, Noseda, Pinter Caipo Italia, Reggiani Macchine, Salvade’, Savio Macchine Tessili, Stalam, Tecnorama, Tonello, Waternext.