Greens/EFA call for development of key strategic industries as a competitive advantage for the EU

Today, the European Commission will come out with the Net Zero Industry Act. This regulation, which will reinforce the industrial plan of the Green Deal. The Greens/EFA Group welcomes this initiative, which will create jobs in the climate-neutral industry across the EU. However, some aspects of the proposal remain questionable, such as the emphasis on CO2 storage as a mature net-zero technology for our 2030 climate commitments. In order to increase and diversify supply, strengthen the circular economy and make the EU less dependent on foreign powers, the European Commission is also announcing the Critical Raw Materials Act.

Bas Eickhout MEP, Greens/EFA Vice Chair of the Environment Committee, comments:

"The Net Zero Industry Act has the potential to revitalise and invigorate European industry and put European industry at the heart of the green transition. There are millions of jobs in the EU that benefit from renewables and other climate friendly industries. That’s why we welcome that the Commission is giving the impetus to transform our industry.

“The new Act needs a comprehensive set of rules to enable and simplify the transformation. There is still a lack of investment and clear guidelines for a fair labour policy and a simple application for subsidies. The European Union runs on industry and its modernisation and green transformation is essential for the future of Europe and the planet.

Sara Matthieu MEP, Greens/EFA Member of the Environment Committee, comments:

"We absolutely need critical raw materials in the European Union for the ecological transition, while avoiding our dependence on dictators and authoritarian regimes. But we also need to avoid harm to workers and the planet as a result of the extraction of raw materials.”

“That is why a primary focus on the circular economy, a reduction in the demand for raw materials, an update of the mining legislation and the preservation of protected areas should be key components of the new raw materials act. A race against time to tackle climate change must not become a race to the bottom, nor be at the expense of environment and biodiversity.”

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The Greens/EFA Group call for the highest environmental and social standards in mining and for the interests of local people to be taken into account, not least indigenous communities in Sweden and Finland. Mining in protected areas in Europe such as Natura 2000 must also remain unacceptable.