Timeline - EU industrial policy

The Council gave its final approval to the reform of the research fund for coal and steel.

The objectives of the fund are to:

• boost investment in research and innovation in the steel sector
• support the green and just transition in EU coal-mining regions

The programme is extended until 2034 and will provide up to €120 million in annual funding, for a total investment of around €800 million.

• Research fund for coal and steel: Council gives its final approval (press release, 29 June 2026)

The Council approved conclusions on the EU maritime industrial strategy, underlining the strategic importance of Europe's maritime manufacturing and shipping sectors for the European Union's competitiveness, resilience, economic security, defence readiness, prosperity and decarbonisation objectives.

The maritime industrial strategy is a structured action plan that aims to strengthen Europe's maritime leadership by advancing high-tech shipbuilding and cutting-edge port equipment.

In the conclusions, member states recognise the maritime sector as a cornerstone of Europe's industrial base and stress its essential role in safeguarding supply chains, supporting the clean transition and strengthening the EU's technological leadership.

• Council adopts conclusions on the EU maritime industrial strategy (press release, 8 June 2026)

The Council adopted conclusions outlining comprehensive steps to build a sustainable and competitive tourism sector for the 21st century.

They focus on seven areas:

• local communities and social equity
• connectivity and sustainable mobility
• green transition and climate change
• digital transformation, data and innovation
• skills and quality employment
• resilience, adaptive management and crisis preparedness
• multi-level governance

• The Council sets strategic guidelines for a sustainable and competitive tourism sector (press release, 28 May 2026)

In the margins of the informal European Council meeting in Lefkosia on 24 April 2026, the Cyprus presidency of the Council, the President of the European Parliament and the President of the Commission signed the 'One Europe, One Market' roadmap.

The roadmap, based on guidance provided by EU leaders, features concrete actions and targets for agreements, at the latest by end 2027, across five key areas:

• simplifying rules
• a more integrated single market
• championing strong trade
• reducing energy prices and decarbonising
• driving the digital and AI transformation

• European institutions agree roadmap to achieve 'One Europe, One Market' by end of 2027 (press release, 24 April 2026)

At the March 2026 European Council, EU leaders launched a 'One Europe, One Market' agenda, to be implemented in 2026 where possible, and by the end of 2027 at the latest.

Aiming at boosting European competitiveness and enhancing the EU's strategic autonomy and economic security, this agenda identifies a set of concrete measures with ambitious deadlines.

It outlines several priority measures as regards fostering Europe's industrial renewal, accelerating innovation and reducing strategic dependencies:

• a mapping of dependencies in strategic sectors
• establishing a targeted and proportionate ‘European preference’
• measures against strong unfair competition and economic coercion
• a technological sovereignty package

• European Council, 19 March 2026

The Council adopted its position on amending the critical raw materials act (CRMA) to improve circularity, with the aim of increasing recycling capacity and strengthening the secondary market for critical raw materials

The Council position supports the proposed changes by the Commission and:

• requires the Commission to inform member states and company boards in case of CRM supply risks
• clarifies the Commission's authority to propose risk-mitigation measures
• allows the use product passports to comply with information obligations about permanent magnets

• Council adopts negotiating position on amendments to the critical raw materials act (press release, 4 March 2026)

The Council reached an agreement (general approach) on two proposals to reform the research fund for coal and steel.

The two Council decisions aim to accelerate and simplify research and innovation investments to boost competitiveness and support the green and just transition of the EU’s steel industry sector and coal-mining regions.

The Council's position:

• extends the duration of the programme to 2034 (instead of 2030 as proposed by the Commission)
• evenly distributes the annual financial allocation to allow for up to €120 million of investment per year
• clarifies the objectives of the programme for research and innovation projects related to these areas.

• Research fund for coal and steel: Council adopts position to make steel and coal industries cleaner and more competitive (press release, 27 February 2026)

The Council adopted a directive amending the requirements for measuring instruments sold and placed on the single market. 

The updated measuring instruments directive will facilitate the deployment of electric vehicle chargers, compressed gas dispensers, and thermal energy meters, which are essential for the green transition.

The revised rules also prioritise digitalisation and smart metering and support the use of emerging gases such as hydrogen to help decarbonise industrial processes.

• Technical harmonisation: Council approves new requirements for car chargers and other measuring instruments (press release, 26 February 2026)

The Council gave the green light to a simplification of sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements for companies.

The legislation is part of the Omnibus I package that aims to simplify the directives on corporate sustainability reporting (CSRD) and corporate sustainability due diligence (CS3D).

The updated rules will reduce the reporting burden and limit the trickle-down effect of obligations on smaller companies.

Under the updated rules, only companies with more than 1 000 employees and over €450 million net annual turnover have to meet the CSRD requirements. Similarly, only companies with more than 5 000 employees and over €1.5 billion net turnover have to meet the CS3D requirements.

Next, the legislation will be published in the EU's official journal and enter into force on the 20th day following publication. Member states will then have one year to transpose the provisions into national law, except article 4 on the level of harmonisation, with which they will have to comply by 26 July 2028 at the latest.

• Council signs off simplification of sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements to boost EU competitiveness (press release, 24 February 2026)

The Council adopted an amendment to the regulation governing the activities of the European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking, extending its objectives to facilitate the creation of artificial intelligence (AI) gigafactories in Europe and to include a dedicated quantum technologies pillar.

The amended regulation allows for the development and operation of AI gigafactories in Europe, a world-class AI computer infrastructure that will strengthen Europe’s industry and competitiveness, while fostering cooperation through public-private partnerships that include member states and industry stakeholders.

It also:

• sets rules for funding and procurement, while safeguarding the interests of start-ups and scale-ups
• provides flexibility for partners, enabling them to optimise results while advancing Europe's leadership in AI and quantum technologies

• Artificial intelligence: Council paves the way for the creation of AI gigafactories (16 January 2026)

The Council adopted new measures to support faster, more flexible and better coordinated defence-related investments across the EU.

With this adoption, the Council responds to the repeated calls from the European Council to facilitate the deployment of EU funding for defence and dual-use technologies, and to strengthen Europe’s defence industrial and technological base in the face of mounting geopolitical challenges.

• Council adopts measures to incentivise and simplify defence investments in the EU (press release, 18 December 2025)

The Council adopted the European defence industry programme (EDIP), an instrument designed to boost the EU’s defence readiness.

EDIP aims to enhance the competitiveness and the responsiveness of the European defence industry and to boost common procurements. It also establishes:

• measures to ramp up defence industrial manufacturing capacities
• a framework for defence industrial cooperation with Ukraine
• a security of supply regime for crisis-relevant products
• a legal toolbox to facilitate long-term armaments cooperation
• a military sales mechanism

• European defence industry programme: Council gives final approval (press release, 8 December 2025)

The Council gave its final approval to the compulsory licensing regulation.

This legislation will allow certain intellectual property rights (such as patents) to be used without the consent of their holders, to ensure the availability of critical products (such as vaccines and protective equipment) in the event of a crisis.

The regulation:

• emphasises the last-resort nature of compulsory licensing
• ensures that there is no obligation to disclose trade secrets

• Crisis preparedness: Council approves framework for compulsory licensing in crisis situations (press release 27 October 2025),
• How the EU protects intellectual property rights

The existential threat of climate change underpins the EU’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and drives its determination to harness the full potential of the required industrial renewal and transformation of its economies.

At the October European Council, EU leaders stressed the importance of ensuring industrial renewal in a technologically neutral manner and of paying particular attention to both traditional and energy-intensive industries. In this regard, the leaders welcomed the Commission’s intention to:

• review rules on CO2 emission performance standards for cars and vans
• put forward a proposal on accelerating industrial decarbonisation

They also called on the Commission to support European industry and citizens in achieving the 2040 targets and to present a revision of the emissions trading system for road transport and buildings.

• European Council, 23 October 2025

The Council approved conclusions on tax incentives to promote clean technologies and industry, as part of the EU’s clean industrial deal. 

In its conclusions, the Council stresses the need to reignite economic dynamism in Europe and to strengthen competitiveness and resilience.

At the same time, the Council highlights the need to keep tax incentives simple for companies and tax authorities, in particular given the differences in tax systems across the EU. 

The conclusions also underline that member states are free to design, implement and apply tax incentives in accordance with their individual situations, taking into account potential budgetary impacts.

• Taxation: Council approves conclusions on the use of tax incentives to support clean technologies and industry (press release, 10 October 2025)

The Council adopted its position on the amendments that update the 20-year-old directive on harmonised requirements for measuring instruments.

The changes cover new devices that are crucial for meeting the goals of the European Green Deal, such as:

• electric vehicle charging equipment
• compressed gas dispensers and meters for electricity, gas and thermal energy

The updated rules also aim to address the growing role of digitalisation in smart metering and facilitate the use of emerging gases, such as hydrogen, to support the decarbonisation of industrial processes. 

The updated requirements are technology-neutral and encourage the use of modern solutions for both consumers and producers of metering devices.

• Council agrees position on modernised rules for measuring instruments to support green and digital transition (press release, 8 October 2025)

The Council approved conclusions on the importance of research and innovation for the EU startup and scaleup strategy.

These conclusions provide guidance for the establishment of a strong and dynamic ecosystem where higher education and research institutions can:

• support the creation and growth of new companies
• valorise the results of their research
• attract and retain talent.

To this end, the conclusions call for a supportive regulatory and financial environment to boost innovative companies.

• Council backs research and innovation for startups and scaleups (press release, 30 September 2025)
• Research

EU ambassadors approved the Council's position on simplifying EU rules on chemical products. The proposal postpones the date of entry of rules relating to the classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals to 1 January 2028. The proposed revised timelines will give EU companies more legal certainty as regards their obligations.

Next, the Council and the Parliament will start negotiations with a view to reaching a deal.

• Simplification: Council approves ‘stop-the-clock’ mechanism on chemicals to provide legal certainty to businesses (press release, 24 September 2025)
• Chemicals

EU ambassadors approved the Council's positions forming part of the fourth omnibus package, namely:

• digitalisation and common specifications
• small mid-cap enterprises

The proposed revisions will help prioritise digital formats across the EU, including for the EU declaration of conformity, and better support companies that have outgrown the SME definition.

Next, the Council and the Parliament will start negotiations with a view to reaching a deal.

• Simplification: Council agrees positions on digitalisation and common specifications, as well as on small mid-caps, to boost EU competitiveness (press release, 24 September 2025)

Recalling its conclusions of 20 March 2025, the European Council calls for EU competitiveness to be strengthened through:

• innovation and promoting European technological leadership
• deepening the single market
• enhancing the Union’s industrial base

• European Council, 26 June 2025

The Council adopted a targeted amendment to the regulation on CO2 standards for new passenger cars and vans, which aims to grant car manufacturers the flexibility required to meet their emissions targets for 2025.

The amended regulation provides that compliance with car manufacturers specific emissions targets as regards the three years 2025, 2026 and 2027 will be assessed based on an average of the performance of each manufacturer over these three years, instead of annually.

The targeted amendment of the regulation on CO2 standards is one of the initiatives announced in the Industrial action plan for the European automotive sector, which was presented on 5 March 2025.

• CO2 emissions in cars: Council gives final approval to additional flexibility for carmakers (press release, 27 May 2025)

EU leaders welcomed the competitiveness compass, the clean industrial act and the omnibus simplification packages presented by the Commission, and  called on the Commission to present further simplification packages, including on industrial decarbonisation and on security and defence.

To achieve a deeper single market, EU leaders also called for specific work strands to be pursued without delay to secure Europe’s industrial innovation, renewal and decarbonisation.

This includes growth in key technologies, such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, semiconductors, 5G/6G and other critical technologies, while also paying attention to traditional industries in transition such as the automotive, shipping, aviation and energy-intensive industries.

• European Council, 20 March 2025
• Competitiveness compass
• Simplification of EU rules

The Council adopted a directive expanding and upgrading the use of digital tools and processes in company law.

Digitalisation will cut the amount of red tape by allowing SMEs to complete administrative procedures across the single market without the need to re-submit documents.

The new rules:

• encourage the use of the ‘once-only principle’ (part of the Single Digital Gateway) when setting up subsidiaries and branches in another member state
• introduce a multilingual EU company certificate 
• remove formalities such as the need for an apostille on company documents through a digital EU power of attorney to be used in cross-border procedures

This is the last step in the decision-making procedure.

• Council adopts the directive upgrading company law for the digital era (press release, 16 December 2024)
• Support to small and medium-sized enterprises (background information)
• A digital future for Europe (background information)

The Council adopted the electricity market designed regulation.

The new rules will mean:

• a better protection for consumers
• more stability and competitiveness for companies
• a boost for green electricity

The proposal for a regulation to protect against market manipulation in the wholesale energy market was formally adopted by the Council on 18 March 2024.

• Electricity market reform: Council signs off on updated rules (press release, 21 May 2024)
• Wholesale energy markets: Council adopts law to protect against market manipulation (press release, 18 March 2024)
• Electricity market reform (background information)

The Council adopted a regulation on establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe's net-zero technology manufacturing ecosystem, better known as the 'net-zero industry act'.

These new rules will facilitate the conditions for investments in green technologies by: 

• simplifying permit granting procedures  
• supporting strategic projects, based on specific criteria contributing to decarbonisation 
• facilitating access to markets for net-zero technological products 
• defining rules for public incentives  
• enhancing the skills of the European workforce 

The objective is to cover 40% of the EU’s needs in strategic technology products, such as solar photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, batteries and heat pumps.

• Industry policy: Council gives final approval to the net-zero industry act (press release, 27 May 2024)
• European Green Deal (background information)

The Council adopted conclusions on 'A competitive European industry driving our green, digital and resilient future' which call for a comprehensive long-term industrial policy strategy with a vision for 2030.

More specifically, the Council conclusions call for:

• priority to be given to areas of technology that are critical for the EU's economic security
• the identification of a limited number of strategic priorities in the EU's industrial research and innovation policy
• the advancement of the Capital Markets Union and the use of existing bodies and instruments (European Investment Bank, the cohesion policy, InvestEU programme)
• a European industrial policy in line with the green and digital priorities of the Union, based on evidence-based tools, metrics, market-based principles and core economic forecasts and findings

• Council adopts conclusions on the future of industrial policy (press release, 24 May 2024)
• Europan capital markets (background information)

• Council adopts conclusions on strengthening knowledge valorisation (press release, 24 May 2024)

The Council adopted the regulation to establish a framework to ensure a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials, better known as the critical raw materials act (CRMA).

The CRMA introduces:

• ambitious benchmarks on extraction, processing, recycling and diversification of import sources
• clear deadlines for permit procedures for EU extracting projects
• supply-chain risk assessments

This legislative act will ensure that our industry is up and ready for the digital and green transitions.

• Strategic autonomy: Council gives its final approval on the critical raw materials act (press release, 18 March 2024)

The Council and the European Parliament reached today a provisional deal on the amending directive to further expand and upgrade the use of digital tools and processes in company law.

Digitalisation will cut the amount of red tape by allowing SMEs to complete administrative procedures across the single market without the need to re-submit documents.

The new rules:

• encourage the use of the ‘once-only principle’ (part of the Single Digital Gateway) when setting up subsidiaries and branches in another member state
• introduce a multilingual EU company certificate 
• remove formalities such as the need for an apostille on company documents through a digital EU power of attorney to be used in cross-border procedures

• Council and Parliament strike a deal to expand the use of digital tools in EU company law (press release, 14 March 2024)
• Support to small and medium-sized enterprises (background information)
• A digital future for Europe (background information)

The Council and the European Parliament reached today a provisional deal on the amending directive to further expand and upgrade the use of digital tools and processes in company law.

Digitalisation will cut the amount of red tape by allowing SMEs to complete administrative procedures across the single market without the need to re-submit documents.

The new rules:

• encourage the use of the ‘once-only principle’ (part of the Single Digital Gateway) when setting up subsidiaries and branches in another member state
• introduce a multilingual EU company certificate 
• remove formalities such as the need for an apostille on company documents through a digital EU power of attorney to be used in cross-border procedures

• Council and Parliament strike a deal to expand the use of digital tools in EU company law (press release, 14 March 2024)

The Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional deal on the net-zero industry act. 

These new rules will facilitate the conditions for investments in green technologies by simplifying permit granting procedures and supporting strategic projects. 

The objective is to cover 40% of the EU’s needs in net-zero strategic technology products, such as solar photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, batteries and heat pumps. 

The act will accelerate progress towards the EU’s 2030 climate and energy targets and the transition to climate neutrality, while: 

• boosting the competitiveness of EU industry 
• creating quality jobs 
• supporting the EU’s efforts to become energy independent 

• Net-zero industry act: Council and Parliament strike a deal to boost EU’s green industry (press release, 6 February 2024)
• European Green Deal (background information)

The Council and the Parliament reached a provisional agreement to reform the EU’s electricity market design (EMD). The reform aims to make electricity prices less dependent on volatile fossil fuel prices, shield consumers from price spikes, accelerate the deployment of renewable energies and improve consumer protection.

The provisional agreement with the European Parliament needs to be endorsed and formally adopted by both institutions.

• Reform of electricity market design: Council and Parliament reach deal (press release, 14 December 2023)
• Electricity market reform (background information)

EU ministers adopted a common position (general approach) on the proposal to scale up manufacturing of clean technologies in the EU, through the net-zero industry act.

These new rules will accelerate progress towards the EU’s 2030 climate and energy targets and the transition to climate neutrality, while:

• boosting the competitiveness of EU industry
• creating quality jobs
• supporting the EU’s efforts to become energy independent

The objective is to cover 40% of the EU’s needs in strategic technology products, like solar photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, batteries and heat pumps.

• Net-zero industry act: Council adopts position to boost technologies for the green transition (press release, 7 December 2023
• European Green Deal (background information)

On 5 December 2023, the Council and the Parliament reached a provisional deal on new ecodesign requirements for sustainable products.  

The new rules aim to: 

• set environmental sustainability requirements for almost all kinds of goods placed on the EU market 
• establish a digital product passport that will provide information about a product’s environmental sustainability 
• prohibits the destruction of certain unsold consumer goods (textiles and footwear)

They will also will: 

• provide a level-playing field for businesses aiming to sell their products on the EU market 
• widen existing markets 
• reduce compliance costs and administrative burdens  

• Products fit for the green transition: Council and Parliament conclude a provisional agreement on the ecodesign regulation (press release, 5 December 2023)

The Council and Parliament reached a provisional agreement on a European critical raw materials act.

The new rules will:

• strengthen the EU's strategic autonomy
• diversify the supply of critical raw materials (CRMs)
• strengthen circularity

To reduce dependence on third countries to access CRMs, the EU set the following objectives for 2030:

• at least 10% of the EU's annual consumption from EU extraction
• at least 40% of the EU's annual consumption from EU processing
• at least 25% of the EU's annual consumption from domestic recycling

• Council and Parliament strike provisional deal to reinforce the supply of critical raw materials (press release, 13 November 2023)
• Critical raw materials explained

The Council reached an agreement (general approach) on a proposal to amend the EU’s electricity market design (EMD). The reform aims to make electricity prices less dependent on volatile fossil fuel prices, shield consumers from price spikes, accelerate the deployment of renewable energies and improve consumer protection.

The proposal is part of a wider reform of the EU’s electricity market design which also includes a regulation focused on improving the Union’s protection against market manipulation through better monitoring and transparency (REMIT). A general approach on REMIT was agreed during the Energy Council on 19 June 2023.

• Reform of electricity market design: Council reaches agreement (press release, 17 October 2023)

The Council gave its final approval to the regulation establishing a framework of measures to strengthen Europe's semiconductor ecosystem, better known as the 'Chips act'.

The deal will create the conditions for the development of an industrial base that can double the EU’s global market share in semiconductors from 10% to at least 20% by 2030.

• Chips act: Council gives its final approval (press release, 25 July 2023)
• The EU chips industry (background information)

The Council adopted its negotiating mandate on the proposed regulation establishing a framework to ensure a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials, better known as the critical raw materials act.

The act aims to:

• increase and diversify the EU's critical raw materials supply
• strengthen circularity, including recycling
• support research and innovation on resource efficiency and the development of substitutes

The Council position:

• raises the level of ambition for recycled and processed raw materials
• reinforces sustainability criteria
• adapts the process of granting permits

• Critical raw materials act: Council adopts negotiating position (press release, 30 June 2023)
• Critical raw materials explained

The Council agreed a general approach on the wholesale energy market integrity and transparency regulation (REMIT). The proposal aims to support an open and fair competition in the European wholesale energy markets, by banning trading based on inside information and deterring market manipulation.

The proposal on REMIT is part of a wider reform of the EU’s electricity market design. The remaining parts of the reform, that aim to make electricity prices less dependent on volatile fossil fuel prices and shield consumers from price spikes and accelerate the deployment of renewable energies and improve consumer protection, are to be agreed at a later stage.

• Council reaches agreement on parts of electricity market reform (press release, 19 June 2023)

The Council adopted its general approach on the proposed regulation establishing a framework for setting ecodesign requirements for sustainable products.

The new regulation:

• sets environmental sustainability requirements for almost all kinds of goods placed on the EU market
• establishes a Digital Product Passport that will provide information about products' environmental sustainability

The Council’s position:

• clarifies how member state experts and stakeholders should be involved
• introduces a direct-ban on the destruction of textiles, footwear and apparel, with a four-year exemption for medium-sized companies, and a general exemption for small and micro companies
• excludes motor vehicles 

• Ecodesign regulation: Council adopts position (press release, 23 May 2023)
• Competitiveness Council, 22-23 May 2023

The Council and the Parliament reached a provisional political agreement on the regulation establishing a framework of measures to strengthen Europe's semiconductor ecosystem, better known as the 'Chips Act'.

The deal will create the conditions for the development of an industrial base that can double the EU’s global market share in semiconductors from 10% to at least 20% by 2030.

• Chips Act: Council and European Parliament strike provisional deal (press release, 18 April 2023)
• The EU chips industry (background information)

The European Union is building a robust and future-proof economy that secures long-term prosperity. This requires a deepened single market and reinforced industrial and trade policies. 

EU leaders called for work to be taken forward on the European Commission proposals, tabled under the Green Deal Industrial Plan, on:

• a European critical raw materials act
• a net-zero industry act
• a revision of the EU’s internal electricity market design, with a view to ensuring its adoption by the end of 2023

• European Council, 23 March 2023

At the EU summit held on 9 February 2023, leaders discussed a set of measures that could help boost the competitiveness of EU industry.

Building on the Commission’s communication on a Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age, which was presented on 1 February 2023, EU leaders called for work to urgently be taken forward on:

• state aid policy, including making procedures simpler, faster and more predictable and allowing for targeted, temporary and proportionate support
• increasing the flexibility of EU funds, in order to ensure fair access to financial means
• ensuring access to relevant critical raw materials and simplifying the regulatory environment to help foster greener industry
• boosting skills to meet the challenges of labour shortages and the transformation of the labour market
• closing investment gaps through private and public investment

• Special European Council, 9 February 2023

At the European Council meeting, EU leaders underlined the importance of safeguarding Europe’s economic, industrial and technological base and of preserving the global level playing field, in light of the impact of high energy prices.

They stressed the importance of an ambitious European industrial policy to make Europe’s economy fit for the green and digital transitions and reduce strategic dependencies, particularly in the most sensitive areas.

With a view to ensuring resilience and competitiveness, the European Council invited the Commission to make proposals by the end of January 2023 to mobilise all relevant national and EU tools and improve framework conditions for investment, including through streamlined administrative procedures.

• European Council, 15 December 2022

The Council held a policy debate on the resilience of strategic industrial ecosystems, during which the ministers stressed the importance of strengthening the resilience of these ecosystems.

In the light of recent developments, the ministers stressed that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine highlighted the need to make Europe’s economic base more resilient and more competitive. Accordingly, the ministers stated their willingness to continue to work on these aspect.

The Council also discussed specific actions to reduce strategic dependencies, in particular concerning critical raw materials.

• Competitiveness Council, 9-10 June 2022

The Council and the European Parliament have reached a provisional political agreement on the proposal for a directive introducing a common charger. 

The directive will make a USB-C charging port mandatory for a whole range of electronic devices. Having a common charger will improve consumer convenience by harmonising charging interfaces and fast charging technology. 

The directive will allow consumers to choose whether to purchase a new device with or without a charger. This will reduce the electronic waste associated with the production, transportation and disposal of chargers.  

The new rules will have to be implemented for most devices 24 months after the entry into force of the directive. 

• Common charger: Council and European Parliament reach a provisional political agreement (press release, 7 June 2022)

Ministers addressed the specific challenges that implementing the ‘fit for 55’ package would pose for the mobility industries. They discussed their estimation of the scale and cost of the green mobility transition, but also its long-term benefits and the actions required to support the transition.

The member states welcomed the fact that the Competitiveness Council was to play an important role in guiding the various policies for speeding up the EU’s green transition. 

• Competitiveness Council (internal market and industry), 24 February 2022

On the basis of a presidency note, ministers held a policy debate on the updated new industrial strategy, focusing on the importance of securing access to critical raw materials.

Delegations welcomed the latest Commission communication on an updated EU industrial strategy. They voiced strong support for the suggested measures to deepen the integration and resilience of the internal market to the benefit of all actors, especially SMEs. They shared the need for a more inclusive and diversified network of supply chains for critical raw materials to ensure that the EU industry remains resilient in times of crises, in particular in sectors of strategic importance, such as pharmaceuticals, semi-conductors etc.  

• Competitiveness Council, 27-28 May 2021

EU leaders underlined the need to strengthen the competitiveness and resilience of the European Union's industry, including SMEs, to accelerate the green and digital transitions and to address strategic dependencies. The update of the European industrial strategy should take into account lessons learned so far from the COVID-19 crisis and support the recovery effort.

• Video conference of the members of the European Council, 25 March 2021

Ministers held a policy debate on how national recovery and resilience plans can best be used as an instrument for delivering on industrial policy goals by strengthening:

• the Single Market
• the twin transitions
• the strategic autonomy in an open EU

Ministers broadly agreed that the Competitiveness Council should play a prominent role in the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility and that it should provide coordination and guidance in the investments to be made. 

It was stressed that a well-functioning Single Market and fair competition are the main preconditions for Europe to come out stronger and more resilient from the COVID-19 crisis. Ministers underlined the importance of ensuring the free flow of goods and services for the smooth functioning of the Single Market. They stressed the need for coordination between member states before establishing temporary control measures at the internal borders within the EU. 

• Informal video conference of internal market and industry ministers, 25 February 2021

Ministers held an informal policy debate on how to make the most of the EU’s recovery plan to achieve a more dynamic, resilient and competitive European industry through investments in the green transition.

The discussions followed up on the conclusions on ‘A recovery advancing the transition towards a more dynamic, resilient and competitive European industry’, which were adopted by the Council on 16 November 2020 through a written procedure.

The conclusions should serve as the Council’s input to the Commission’s preparatory work for updating its ‘New Industrial Strategy for Europe’.

• Towards a more dynamic, resilient and competitive European industry: Council adopts conclusions (press release, 16 November 2020)
• Video conference of internal market and industry ministers, 19 November 2020

EU leaders reaffirmed the need for the EU to pursue an ambitious European industrial policy as a central pillar of the EU's recovery. The European Council invited the Commission to identify strategic dependencies, particularly in the most sensitive industrial ecosystems such as for health, and propose measures to reduce these dependencies.

The European Council called for:

• ensuring a level playing field, and a regulatory environment and state aid framework that are conducive to innovation
• developing new industrial alliances
• stepping up the assistance to the existing important projects of common European interest as well as developing new ones
• developing EU autonomy in the space sector and a more integrated defence industrial base

• European Council, 1-2 October 2020

EU leaders agreed that a strong economic base is of key importance for Europe's prosperity and competitiveness. They stated that this objective should be achieved including through a EU industrial policy, which should focus inter alia on artificial intelligence. 

In order to build towards a sustainable and competitive industrial base, the European Council invited the European Commission to present, by the end of 2019, a long-term vision with concrete steps.

• European Council, 21-22/03/2019

The Council debated the EU's vision for a long-term strategy on sustainable growth, as set out in a report by Finland's presidency.

Ministers agreed that this strategy should be based on interlinks between measures covering different policy areas. Among those mentioned:

• an ambitious EU industrial strategy
• a more efficient policy for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• the swift removal of any remaining unjustified barriers to the free movement of services in the single market
• a balanced approach between competitiveness and climate-neutrality

The EU strategy on sustainable growth is an important pillar of the new strategic agenda for 2019-2024.

• Competitiveness Council, 26-27/09/2019
• A new strategic agenda for the EU
• EU's long-term strategy for sustainable growth (presidency report)

The Council held a policy debate and adopted conclusions on an "EU industrial policy strategy: A vision for 2030". The conclusions echoed calls from the European Council for an assertive long-term EU industrial policy strategy, and are to contribute to the Commission's comprehensive strategy planned for end-2019.

Ministers agreed on the need for a strong EU industrial base, capable of facing global competition and of addressing challenges linked to the digital transformation and to the transition towards a climate-neutral and circular economy.

• An EU Industrial Policy Strategy: a Vision for 2030 (Council conclusions, 27 May 2019)
• Competitiveness Council, 27-28/05/2019
• European Council, 21-22/03/2019

The Council held policy debates on two important topics for the future of the European Union: 

• impact of artificial intelligence 
• building a climate neutral economy

On the first subject, the Council adopted conclusions. Ministers underlined the crucial importance of fostering the development and use of artificial intelligence in Europe.

On the second topic, the Council discussed the industry-related aspects of the recent European Commission communication entitled "A clean planet for all". Ministers stressed that the EU industry will continue to be a key enabler to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

• Competitiveness Council, 18-19/02/2019

After holding a discussion on the topic, the Competitiveness Council adopted conclusions on a future EU industrial policy strategy.

The conclusions stress the urgent need for a long-term strategy for European industry in order to boost competitiveness, growth and innovation in Europe.

Our industrial policy is a strategic question for Europe – what we do now will determine where our economy and society will be in a decade. This underlines the need for us to have a broader, long-term and forward-looking approach. Emil Karanikolov, Minister of Economy of Bulgaria

• EU industrial policy strategy: Council adopts conclusions (press release, 12/03/2018)

The Council adopted a set of conclusions stressing the need for a future EU strategy on industrial policy. This plan, the ministers agreed, should be comprehensive and structured for the longer term. 

• Outcome of the Competitiveness Council meeting, 29/11/2018

The Council held a public debate on the need to capture the potential of digitalisation and AI in order to strengthen the innovation capacity of the EU industry. 

• Competitiveness Council, 27-28/09/2018
• Rethinking EU industry (Austrian presidency)

The Competitiveness Council adopted conclusions on 'A renewed EU industrial policy strategy'.

Ministers called on the Commission to develop a comprehensive strategy with a focus on 2030 and beyond. This should include medium to long-term objectives and indicators for industry and should be accompanied by an action plan with concrete measures.

The conclusions called on the Commission to present a progress report in time for the spring 2018 European Council.

• Competitiveness Council, 30/11-01/12/2017
• A renewed EU industrial policy strategy (European Commission)

EU leaders highlighted the need for the EU to support new forms of entrepreneurship and stimulate the digital transformation of industries and services.

In this context, the European Council called on the Commission to put forward the necessary initiatives enabling the EU to reaffirm the leading role of its industry.

• European Council, 19-20/10/2017

The European Council called for concrete action to ensure a strong and competitive industrial base for the single market.

EU leaders emphasised the importance of a well-functioning single market in fostering growth, creating jobs, and promoting investments and innovation.  

• European Council, 22-23/06/2017

The Competitiveness Council called on the European Commission to provide a holistic EU industrial policy strategy in time for the European Council meeting in spring 2018.

Ministers agreed that the new strategy should place particular focus on:

• SMEs and start-ups
• research, development and innovation
• digital transformation
• tackling unfair commercial practices
• sustainable and affordable energy sources.

• Competitiveness Council, 29-30/05/2017