European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, appointed last year to lead the Green Deal programme, has a plan to link the EU’s green transition and the bloc’s industrial competitiveness, Euractiv reports.
The Slovak EU commissioner asked business associations, think tanks, trade unions and green philanthropists on Wednesday (21 February) to prepare for the next phase of the European Green Deal, which focuses on industrial policy.
Šefčovič met with representatives of the European Climate Foundation, a philanthropic group backed by US financiers, the EU employers’ association BusinessEurope, and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) during a one-day event and participated in a roundtable discussion with Europe’s largest oil and gas companies.
The EU’s future Green Deal Industrial Plan, according to Šefčovič, will be based on “four pillars, which I believe are absolutely necessary.” These include a “predictable and simplified regulatory environment”, “speedy and efficient access to funds,” an emphasis on skills and education in new technologies through vocational training and universities, and “open trade for resilient supply chains.”
Šefčovič pointed out the urgency to act as it concerned China’s dominance of mineral markets while a critical EU raw materials law was due to be formally adopted in the coming weeks.
The Commission has already pledged to mobilise €1 trillion via its seven-year budget… but of course much more will be needed.
It remains to be seen whether Šefčovič will get a chance to implement his plan at the next commission to be appointed after the June European elections. However, industry representatives are clearly supportive of his initiative, with one lobbyist calling him “Implementovič” and praising his commitment to dialogue with the clean technology industry. Others hailed his ability to bring the two sides together.
