The EURATEX General Assembly re-elected Mario Jorge Machado as President on 12 June 2026, renewing confidence in his leadership at a defining moment for European textiles. The sector faces mounting pressure from rising production costs, intensifying global competition, and an accelerating shift toward sustainability and digitalisation. His renewed mandate signals a clear direction for one of Europe's most strategically important manufacturing industries. Follow the latest developments in our textile news section on textilezon.com.
A Mandate Renewed at a Critical Moment
Mario Jorge Machado brings a degree in Production Polymer Engineering from the University of Minho, paired with deep industrial experience across the textile value chain. His re-election reflects the General Assembly's confidence in his ability to navigate complex policy environments. The EURATEX membership has endorsed his agenda as both realistic and ambitious.
In his acceptance statement, Machado set an unambiguous tone: "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 Strategic Priorities for European Textiles
Machado's new mandate is built around three interlocking priorities that address both immediate market pressures and long-term structural challenges facing the European textile and clothing industry.
Competitiveness as the Foundation
Industrial competitiveness is the prerequisite for all other policy goals, according to Machado. Without it, he argues, there is no viable path to investment, innovation, sustainability, or strategic autonomy. His plan includes targeted support for automation, artificial intelligence, skills development, and digital infrastructure, with a particular focus on SMEs.
A Genuine Level Playing Field
The second priority targets market surveillance and import enforcement. Machado has consistently advocated for applying EU safety, environmental, and consumer standards to everything sold in Europe, not just products manufactured here. He is calling for stronger border controls and tighter oversight of goods sold through digital platforms. EURATEX will continue to press for a market where compliance is universally rewarded.
Supporting the Green and Digital Transition
Machado wants the green and digital transition to strengthen European industry, not weaken it. He has stressed that sustainability must become a competitive advantage, supported by affordable energy, realistic regulatory timelines, and targeted company-level assistance. He also advocates for stimulating demand for sustainable European-made textiles through public procurement and feasible transparency tools.
EURATEX Presidency Team Confirmed
The General Assembly confirmed the full EURATEX Presidency Team, which will work alongside Machado to guide the organisation's strategic direction. The team represents leading industry associations from across Europe and Türkiye:
- Franz Peter Falke — T+M, Germany
- Barbara Cimmino — Confindustria Moda, Italy
- Ismail Kolunsag — IHKIB, Türkiye
- Grégory Marchant — UIT, France
This cross-border team reflects EURATEX's commitment to representing the full spectrum of European textile interests at the EU policy level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mario Jorge Machado?
Mario Jorge Machado is the re-elected President of EURATEX, the European Apparel and Textile Confederation. He holds a degree in Production Polymer Engineering from the University of Minho and brings extensive industrial experience to the role.
What are EURATEX's three main priorities for the new mandate?
The three priorities are strengthening industry competitiveness, ensuring equal rules for all products sold in Europe regardless of origin, and supporting companies through the green and digital transition without causing deindustrialisation.
Why is market surveillance critical for the European textile sector?
Many imported products sold in Europe, especially through digital platforms, bypass EU safety and environmental standards. EURATEX advocates for stricter border enforcement so that European manufacturers are not disadvantaged against non-compliant imports.
Machado's re-election strengthens EURATEX's capacity to engage EU institutions with a unified agenda. The European textile and clothing sector's long-term resilience depends on the policy wins his mandate delivers across competitiveness, fair trade enforcement, and the green and digital transition.
