Today at noon (July 13, 2022), the EU industrial strategy update ("Report on the Implementation of the Updated New Industrial Strategy for Europe: aligning spending to policy") was adopted in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) in the European Parliament with 70 votes in favor, 4 against and 0 abstentions.
Henrike Hahn, Member of the European Parliament (The Greens/EFA), deputy speaker and industrial policy speaker of the German delegation, Shadow Rapporteur of the Greens/EFA Group for this file, comments:
"We need a European industrial strategy that helps to achieve our climate targets - without nuclear power, sustainable and future-proof. A European industrial strategy must support us in becoming independent from Putin's blackmail attempts while ensuring the sustainable competitiveness of European industry and businesses.
I am happy about the personal negotiation success that for the European Parliament's Industry Committee nuclear power will not be part of a European industrial strategy: The inclusion of nuclear power in the European industrial strategy in the form of 'small modular reactors' was prevented by our Green engagement.
One of the focal points of the European industrial strategy is now energy savings and energy efficiency. Recycling, substitution of primary (critical) raw materials and circular economy as necessary strategies for our security of supply are now elementary parts of the report on the updated EU industrial strategy.
Another clear Green success is the inclusion of carbon contracts for difference to support innovation but also diffusion of alternative sustainable production methods.
We were able to find a progressive majority against the conservative call for a moratorium on new industrial legislation. Improving the business environment for industry in these difficult times and reducing administrative burdens on business are not mutually exclusive.
The Industrial Strategy Update now addresses key flashpoints that will be of particular concern to us in the period ahead, especially given the new situation of war in Europe: Sustainable energy supply, a level playing field, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, and the digital transformation. In the area of digitalization, the supply of semiconductors and investments in a 5- and 6G infrastructure will play an important role as well as the supply of critical raw materials and the support for research into substitution of (raw) materials, and further re- and upskilling of employees.
The green handwriting throughout the report of the Update of the Industrial Strategy shows that a green competitive industry is a clear, realistic goal for Europe."
Background:
On May 5, 2021, the European Commission presented its revised industrial strategy. Following today's vote in the Industry Committee the report is expected to be voted on in the plenary of the European Parliament in September 2022.
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