(fra kommisjonsmeddelelsen)

In the Clean Industrial Deal 1 , the Commission presented concrete measures to further drive the decarbonisation and competitiveness of European industry. The measures respond to the call for a well-integrated approach across all EU policies in support of this dual objective. They also show the EU’s commitment to addressing the challenges our industry faces, such as the gap in energy prices between the EU and its main competitors, sluggish demand or unfair global competition, while giving companies, large and small, as well as investors the certainty that Europe remains fully committed to become a climate-neutral economy by 2050, taking into account fairness, technological neutrality and cost-efficiency, ensuring a just transition and enhancing environmental sustainability. Investing in decarbonisation will boost the competitiveness of Europe’s economy, strengthen its economic and energy resilience and security, and create stable and future-proof jobs.

In the midst of the global race to net zero, the Clean Industrial Deal will also enable the EU to lead in developing the clean technology markets of the future. According to the International Energy Agency, the global market for the top six mass-manufactured clean energy technologies 2 is set to rise to more than USD 2 trillion by 2035 – close to the average value of the world’s crude oil market in recent years 3 . Meanwhile, clean technology trade is expected to reach USD 575 billion by 2035. As shown in the latest European Investment Bank investment report 4 , Europe’s strong position in cleantech innovation and trade is paying off. European exports of low-carbon technologies, for instance, have risen 65% since 2017, compared with 79% for China and only 22% for the United States. The EU must ensure to retain and strengthen this competitive edge.

To maintain this strong position, industry needs predictability about Europe’s direction of travel, a regulatory framework that minimises unnecessary red tape and a swift and effective implementation of all measures proposed. Decarbonisation and reindustrialisation are two sides of the same coin and there is no credible path to decarbonisation without a strong and resilient European industrial base. That’s why, alongside the proposal to amend the European Climate Law setting a 2040 climate target, with the necessary flexibilities, this Communication shows that the delivery is already underway. Just a few months after the Clean Industrial Deal was presented, we are putting a first wave of actions in motion, actively supporting the industry through this crucial transition, to strengthen European industrial base, foster a global level playing field and unlock including in innovation.

Progress has been made in all six core business drivers identified in the Clean Industrial Deal. The measures strike a balance between supporting the ambitious goals of the Clean Industrial Deal and maintaining a level playing field in the Single Market, so that Member States can provide targeted financial support to decarbonisation efforts and for building sovereign value chains in clean tech where necessary without creating undue competitive distortions. They also empower Member States to leverage tax incentives as a catalyst for private investment in decarbonisation projects, ultimately facilitating a swift transition to a clean and affordable European energy system.

In parallel, the Commission has continued its engagement with stakeholders. Since the adoption of the Clean Industrial Deal, the Strategic Dialogues on the Future of the Automotive Industry and the Future of the European Steel Sector have led to dedicated Action Plans 5 , with concrete, sector-specific actions to maintain Europe’s competitive edge. The Commission has also organised a Clean industrial Dialogue on Circular Economy to prepare the Circular Economy Act. Further measures will be presented based on the Dialogues with the Pharmaceutical and the Chemical Industries, addressing specific concerns of these sectors.

The work to reinforce the resilience and competitiveness of our industries goes beyond the Clean Industrial Deal. The Single Market Strategy, the Savings and Investments Union Strategy, the Water Resilience Strategy, the Communication on the Union of Skills accompanied by an Action Plan on Basic Skills and a STEM Education Strategic Plan, the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy, among others, strengthen the Deal’s objectives. These are further reinforced by four Simplification Omnibus packages aimed at easing the regulatory burden.

In the coming weeks and months, the Commission will decisively advance the implementation of the remaining measures outlined in the Clean Industrial Deal.