When I was first appointed as EU Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, I knew that my top priority would be to move forward with the EU’s climate agenda in a way that reconciles climate, industrial growth and competitiveness.
In the past three months since I started this job, the international landscape has become increasingly complex and uncertain. And with that, Europe’s need to protect, defend, and advance its economy has become even greater. It’s now more urgent than ever to go all in decarbonisation, to use it as a strategic opportunity to cut emissions but also to unlock new opportunities for jobs, growth, and stronger industries.
This is why, over the two and half months, colleagues at all levels in the European Commission have been working nonstop on a new Clean Industrial Deal for Europe. I’m grateful to everyone for all their work and commitment to deliver this first big flagship proposal of this new mandate in under 100 days.
The Clean Industrial Deal is a business plan to re-industrialise our economy, drive competitiveness, enhance strategic independence, and accelerate climate action.
Here’s what we’re doing:
1️⃣ Reducing energy costs and accelerating the transition to clean energy.
2️⃣ Mobilising €100 billion for industrial decarbonisation.
3️⃣ Simplifying regulations and cutting red tape, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
4️⃣ Supporting EU-made clean products with updated public procurement rules and carbon intensity labels.
5️⃣ Ensuring the economy truly becomes circular.
These actions are about creating a stable, reliable environment for businesses to thrive and lead the way in decarbonisation. By investing in innovation and clean technologies, we’re laying the foundation for a greener and more competitive Europe.
Industries need this — I saw this firsthand at Qpinch this week, a pioneering cleantech company turning waste heat into a valuable energy source. They’re using a chemical process, developed at the University of Gent, to capture and reuse waste heat from industrial operations — with high efficiency. This kind of innovation is exactly what Europe needs to lead the clean transition.
Despite all the uncertainty around us, Europe has a clear vision for the future. We’re taking bold action to make it a reality and to power a cleaner, more competitive, and self-sufficient future for all our citizens.
