Clean Industrial Deal must marry industrial competitiveness with climate action
- Need for regulatory simplification and accelerated permitting procedures
- Creation of lead markets in Europe welcome
- European market must be protected from unfair competition
- Call for an action plan on clean technology
The Industrial Decarbonisation Bank and action plan for affordable energy are crucial for the competitiveness and resilience of European industry, MEPs say.
The resolution, adopted on Thursday 19 June in response to the European Commission’s Clean Industrial Deal plan, stresses the need to combine climate action with industrial competitiveness.
It underscores the importance of the newly established Industrial Decarbonisation Bank, which MEPs consider vital for scaling up investment in clean technologies. Investment should be based on carbon impact, scalability, and security of supply, they say.
Parliament welcomes lead markets for European-made clean, circular and low-carbon products, and stresses the need to stimulate demand through public and private procurement.
MEPs also advocate for the protection of the EU market from unfair competition and the dumping of industrial overcapacity from third countries. They underline the importance of an effective carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) in the context of phasing out free allowances under the emissions trading system (ETS).
Faster permitting procedures
The resolution addresses the importance of regulatory simplification and the need to streamline permitting procedures to support the transition and innovation efforts of small businesses. MEPs want to simplify funding applications, reduce reporting obligations, and fast-track small projects.
They also want to build the business case for permanent carbon removals in upcoming legislative reviews, as carbon management, including capture, storage, transport, and utilisation, may be necessary for hard-to-abate sectors, they say.
Affordable energy action plan
MEPs support the action plan for affordable energy and demand measures to boost cross-border energy infrastructure and complete the energy union. The current fragmentation of regulatory oversight and investment planning across Member States is hampering integration and electrification, they say. MEPs also call on Member States, transmission system operators and the Commission to do more to promote cross-border electricity trading.
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"European industry is facing enormous challenges, while a strong industrial base is essential for our competitiveness and strategic autonomy. The Clean Industrial Deal offers a strategy for a competitive and decarbonised European industry. At the same time, it seeks to protect our autonomy and secure jobs. This Deal is an important first step, but time is running out. We urge the Commission to act without delay and raise its level of ambition. When it comes to industrial policy, European cooperation is more crucial than ever" said lead MEP Tom Berendsen (EPP, Netherlands).
The resolution was adopted with 381 votes to 173, with 13 abstentions.
Background: Clean Industrial Deal
Presented by the European Commission in February, the Clean Industrial Deal aims to support the competitiveness and resilience of European industry. It focuses mainly on two sectors: energy-intensive industries and clean technology, and aims to lower energy costs via an action plan on affordable energy. The Clean Industrial Deal also seeks to boost demand for clean products, further finance the clean transition and improve circularity, access to critical raw materials and the establishment of sectoral skills for strategic industries.
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Baptiste CHATAIN
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