Clean Industrial Deal: First important impulses to make Europe competitive again
“The Clean Industrial Deal marks an important first step toward restoring Europe’s competitiveness. The EU can only fulfill its role as a global leader in climate protection through targeted investment in climate-friendly industries and the coordinated use of European and national funds. Competitive framework conditions are essential for the impulses set by the Clean Industrial Deal to encourage companies to invest in the EU. This includes stable and reliably lower energy prices, a deepening of the internal market, new free trade agreements and a substantial reduction in bureaucracy. The omnibus proposal, which is intended to help ease the burden on companies, is a first step in the right direction, which must be followed by further steps.
To bring down Europe's excessively high energy prices in the long term, the BDI supports a clear focus on the development of a fully integrated European energy market. Until this market is sufficiently developed, industrial companies require short- to medium-term relief. The future German government must urgently follow the Commission's proposal and permanently reduce the electricity tax for the manufacturing industry. This should be done permanently at the European minimum level. In addition, the planned state co-financing of transmission grid fees must be implemented quickly.
The European Commission's omnibus package to simplify the EU legal framework for sustainability must be the starting point for a large-scale relief effort. A comprehensive reduction in regulatory burdens must be an absolute priority so that Europe can once again become a robust international competitor. The Commission’s decision to temporarily suspend the implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) is a positive step, ensuring that no additional burdens are imposed. European legislators must urgently use this time to make the directives practicable and substantially improve them through meaningful changes.
The planned introduction of quotas for products ‘made in Europe’ in the Clean Industrial Deal, including in the clean tech sector (Buy European clause), must not lead to further fuelling of protectionism. Such quotas should be strictly limited to strategically important areas and strengthen supply chain resilience within Europe.”
