Industrial Policy
Macron pitches ‘made in Europe’ to guarantee prosperity in ‘Sorbonne II’ speech
Est. 5min"Europe could die," French President Emmanuel Macron warned in a much-awaited speech on the future of the EU at Sorbonne University on Thursday (25 April), stressing the importance of an industry 'Made in Europe', particularly in sectors like energy and digital.
France, Germany and Italy eye ‘omnibus’ law to cut regulatory burden
Est. 6minEconomy, finance and business ministers from France, Germany, and Italy are set to sketch out plans for a sweeping “omnibus” law to cut requirements for businesses on Monday (8 April), turbo-charging industrialists’ demand for a European Industrial deal.
EIB ready to ‘stretch’ lending criteria as it prepares for EU Council’s call to arms
Est. 7minThe European Investment Bank (EIB) could move one step closer to loosening its lending criteria to unlock more direct investment into defence as soon as Thursday (21 March), when it expects to get the final signal it needs from the European Union's 27 member states, Euractiv understands.
Europe’s industrial decarbonisation at risk amid sharp drop in CO2 price
Est. 5minThe sharp drop in the EU's CO2 price, caused by high energy prices and political uncertainty, risks the carbon market's credibility – and becomes an obstacle to the bloc's industrial decarbonisation.
US money propping up France’s investment allure, but will it last?
Est. 5minThe number of confirmed foreign investments projects in France is on the up for the third year in a row, according to new government data released on Thursday (29 February) – almost a third of which comes from the US, despite growing concerns over labour costs and administrative complexity.
The Brief – The industrialists are back
Est. 7minHistory is a circle and the 90s are back: Look no further than the gatherings of Europe’s industrialists.
State aid should be ‘stopped’, Danish industry minister warns
Est. 6minThe current loosening of EU state aid rules should not be prolonged further, Danish Industry Minister Morten Bødskov warned on Tuesday (20 February) while in Berlin to meet his German counterpart, Robert Habeck.
EU Greens chief slams Belgian central banker’s claim climate fight will leave EU poorer
Est. 5minThe co-president of the Greens/EFA European parliamentary group, Philippe Lamberts, rebuked recent warnings by the head of Belgium's central bank that the green transition will make Europe poorer
New EU fiscal reforms will impede critical investments, experts warn
Est. 6minThe much-delayed reform of the EU’s fiscal rules agreed between the European Parliament and Council over the weekend will hamper the bloc’s ability to make critical investments in green technology and Europe’s defence industry, experts interviewed by Euractiv said.
Unions issue ‘urgent’ call for EU industrial policy to respect workers’ rights
Est. 5min“When we give vast amounts of taxpayers’ money to private industry, we should be ensuring they are creating quality jobs that make this collective investment worthwhile."
EU closes deal on scaled-back clean tech ‘sovereignty fund’
Est. 4minLegislators from the Council of EU member states and the European Parliament reached agreement on Wednesday (7 February) on a scaled-back version of what was initially pitched as an EU sovereignty fund to support green technologies.
Nuclear power officially labelled as ‘strategic’ for EU’s decarbonisation
Est. 5minThe Council of EU member states and the European Parliament agreed on Tuesday (6 February) to label nuclear power as a strategic technology for the EU's decarbonisation, following months of intense negotiations in Brussels over the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA).
Business leaders blame skills shortage for Europe’s industrial decline
Est. 5min“We have to make sure that we work on reindustrialisation before our history has disappeared, and that is really why we have to act now."
East German state premier blames US for solar industry malaise
Est. 4minSaxony prime minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU/EPP) blamed the USA’s ‘protectionism’ against China for the current malaise of European solar manufacturers, arguing that it proves the necessity of an independent trade policy approach towards China.
Solar industry calls for ‘emergency measures’ as manufacturers prepare to leave Europe
Est. 6minEuropean solar panel manufacturers have warned they are “poised to shut down manufacturing lines” unless the EU takes emergency measures to save the sector, such as a buy-out of their inventories, which have piled up in recent years due to an influx of cheaper versions from China.
France’s Attal pledges to ‘de-bureaucratise’ France in first major speech
Est. 4minFrance’s freshly-appointed Gabriel Attal vowed to take down bureaucracy and regulatory weight in a large-scale speech on Tuesday (30 January), joining a growing call across the EU to cut back on red tape.
The Brief – Technology can save the world, if we let it
Est. 6minIf you follow the EU’s, say, transport policy, there is one term you will hear over and over again: Technology neutrality.
EU should ‘cut red tape’ to halt industrial slump, Belgian FM says
Est. 5minBelgian finance minister Vincent Van Peteghem has said that developing an 'Industrial Deal' will be one of the key priorities of his country’s EU Council presidency, adding that “cutting red tape” and improving the bloc’s general investment climate are key to arresting the bloc’s industrial decline.
‘Very worrying’: Trade unions alarmed by EU’s industrial collapse
Est. 5minEurope’s major trade union organisations have expressed deep concern about the scale of the EU’s industrial decline, as structurally high energy prices continue to lay waste to a crucial pillar of the bloc’s economy.
Brussels clears French ‘green’ state aid worth over €8 billion in just one month
Est. 3minIn the space of just one month, the European Commission has approved more than €8 billion in French state aid to decarbonise industry and develop renewable energies, according to EU figures released this week.
Battery production: Germany first EU country to match US subsidies
Est. 5minGermany will provide €900 million to Swedish battery maker Northvolt, as the first country to make use of the European Commission’s new subsidy “matching” scheme that allows EU countries to counter foreign subsidies with their own offers.
2023 in EU economic policy: The year Germany went French – and back
Est. 6minFaced with the fear of deindustrialisation, Germany sought to adopt a French-style industrial policy in 2023, including massive subsidies and protectionist ‘Buy European’ clauses – but was caught up by its constraints sooner than expected.
After Karlsruhe: Germany’s economic security agenda on the brink
Est. 5minThe ruling from the German constitutional court in Karlsruhe, declaring the transfer of 60 billion Euros in Covid-related debt to the Klima- und Transformationsfond (KTF) unlawful, has cast a shadow of uncertainty over Germany's economic security agenda, argues Tobias Gehrke.
France ramps up debt rules fight as file enters last leg of negotiations
Est. 6minFrench political heavyweights are raising their voices to warn against the risks of an unbalanced and counterproductive debt rules reform, as negotiations look to wrap up before year-end and austere German criteria appear to be here to stay.