EACN formulated joint comments to the proposition for the European Industrial Acceleration Act that has been shared with the European Commission and MEP Christophe Grudler as IAA rapporteur for the European Parliament.
A strategy aiming at increasing the European manufacturing share of GDP cannot only focus on new implementations.
First of all, especially in the automotive sector, such a strategy must ensure that existing manufacturing sites survive (while decarbonise). Therefore, Made in EU is a positive approach unless it does not open loopholes. And that is currently the case as products from all countries with free trade agreements are included. This will reinforce the already ongoing trend to production in Northern Africa or Turkiye and kill more companies within the EU.
Then, investments must focus on future technologies with new research capacities and production site implementations. These industries then contribute to increasing the manufacturing share of GDP instead of only replacing further lost capacities.
Both approaches nevertheless need favourable frame conditions: affordable and competitive low-carbon energy, minimised administrative burdens for all companies, massive decarbonisation as competitive advantage, existing and functioning concomitant (traditional) industrial sectors, stimulation of STEM education and industrial attractiveness.
