The European Commission has presented a new Industrial Strategy to help Europe achieve its goal of climate neutrality by 2050, while maintaining European industry’s global competitiveness.
The strategy sets out the “key drivers” of Europe’s industrial transformation and proposes future actions.
These include comprehensive measures to modernise and decarbonise energy-intensive industries, support sustainable and smart mobility, promote energy efficiency, strengthen current carbon leakage tools and secure a “sufficient and constant” supply of low-carbon energy at competitive prices.
Other measures include a Clean Hydrogen Alliance to accelerate the decarbonisation of industry and maintain industrial leadership, followed by other alliances including one on low carbon industries.
The Industrial strategy will also promote further legislation and guidance on green public procurement and a “renewed focus” on innovation, investment and skills, the Commission said.
WindEurope chief executive Giles Dickson said: “It is good the Commission has acknowledged the strategic role of renewables for the EU economy.
“Now is the time to take concrete measures. If the European Green Deal is to deliver climate neutrality by 2050, the EU needs to accelerate the deployment of wind energy.
“The Commission see wind being half of Europe’s electricity by 2050. And it’ll be big part of the renewable hydrogen the EU wants more of.”
He added that the wind industry needs to be represented in the new Industrial Forum that the EU is setting up as part of the strategy
Dickson said: “The forum should draft the policies the European wind industry needs to thrive.
“This includes developing a European export strategy for renewables that looks not only at third country market access but also at how national export credit agencies can support the European industry in the face of State-financed Chinese competition.
“The forum should also consider how the concept of alliances can be leveraged to develop innovative renewable energy technologies.”
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen (pictured) said: “Europe’s industry is the motor of growth and prosperity in Europe. And it is at its best when it draws on what makes it strong: its people and their ideas, talents, diversity and entrepreneurial spirit.
“This is more important than ever as Europe embarks on its ambitious green and digital transitions in a more unsettled and unpredictable world. Europe’s industry has everything it takes to lead the way and we will do everything we can to support it.”
Internal market commissioner Thierry Breton added: “Europe has the strongest industry in the world. Our companies – big and small – provide us with jobs, prosperity and strategic autonomy.
“Managing the green and digital transitions and avoiding external dependencies in a new geopolitical context requires radical change – and it needs to start now.”