Source: European Parliament
The European Green Deal[1] aims at putting Europe on a pathway to a climate-neutral continent. The Commission remains committed to the EU’s decarbonisation objectives, which will also allow the economy to become more resilient, while boosting industrial competitiveness.
The Clean Industrial Deal[2] presents concrete initiatives to strengthen the business case for competitiveness, decarbonisation and circularity in Europe. It responds to clear demands of EU industry[3] for an industrial deal based on energy and materials security, and an effective market for net zero, low carbon and circular products. It therefore includes actions to improve access to affordable energy, lead markets, materials and circularity, funding and skills, as well as to an international level playing field. The Commission is also simplifying EU rules and their implementation to reduce burdens for businesses, including when it comes to sustainability reporting[4].
The Commission notes that high energy costs have recently been caused by high fossil fuel prices. The Commission adopted the Affordable Energy Action Plan[5], aimed at lowering energy bills while promoting decarbonisation. It will also propose an Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act, with measures to ease permitting for industrial access to energy and decarbonisation.
The EU is committed to implementing critical raw materials policies[6] by diversifying supply chains, improving access to funding for strategic projects as well as boosting circular business models. Moreover, a Critical Raw Materials Centre will coordinate joint raw material purchases on behalf of interested companies. Regarding energy supply, the Commission calls for swift adoption of the extension of the gas storage rules[7].
- [1] https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en .
- [2] https://commission.europa.eu/topics/eu-competitiveness/clean-industrial-deal_en .
- [3] The Antwerp Declaration for a European Industrial Deal: https://antwerp-declaration.eu/ .
- [4] Sustainability Omnibus: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/publications/commission-simplifies-rules-sustainability-and-eu-investments-delivering-over-eu6-billion_en .
- [5] https://energy.ec.europa.eu/strategy/affordable-energy_en .
- [6] See namely the Critical Raw Materials Act: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202401252 .
- [7] An update to the Security of Supply Framework is foreseen for 2026.