Clean Industrial Deal is the right direction, but Commission must ‘walk the talk’

26 February 2025 - BusinessEurope welcomes that, with today’s publication of the Clean Industrial Deal and the Action Plan on Affordable Energy, the European Commission has recognised the need to create a successful business case in the energy and climate transition. The focus must now be on accelerating progress while ensuring consistency across the regulatory framework.

BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer said: "It is encouraging to see that the Commission has listened to industry and recognised the urgent need to reduce the energy cost differential towards our major competitors, speed up and simplify permitting procedures, and increase demand for low-carbon and circular products. More engagement with third countries for market diversification is also key, while recognising the need to effectively address market distortive practices caused by overcapacity.

However, nine months after the European Elections, we urgently need swifter and more impactful measures to avoid these challenges becoming a new operating reality for businesses. It is unlikely that the measures proposed today will be enough to lower energy costs in the short-term.

We cannot wait until the end of the year for critical actions like those expected to be included in the Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act. Moreover, ‘technological neutrality’ should not be just a declaration of intent but needs to be applied consistently across the Clean Industrial Deal initiatives.

We urge the Commission to go beyond words and ‘walk the talk’, to ensure a competitive transition. This requires swifter and more consistent action. BusinessEurope will remain a constructive partner to the Commission to achieve this goal."