Ensuring affordable and stable energy for the European energy-intensive industries using the example of the chemical sector

Key points

The EESC:

• stresses that the European energy-intensive industry, and in particular the chemical sector, is facing a deep structural crisis, driven primarily by persistently high and volatile energy costs, low investments and global competition; 
• emphasizes that preserving and developing the existing industrial base in line with the new EU goal for manufacturing is essential to avoid the loss of manufacturing capacity know-how and skills, as well as to prevent structural technological dependencies in strategic sectors;
• believes that it is the high time to rebalance the five key pillars of Energy Union – security, internal energy market, energy efficiency, decarbonisation and competitiveness;
• points out that policies must be aligned, and prioritise job protection and high-quality employment according to relevant labour and social regulation, and applicable collective agreements;
• underlines that a key additional measure should be a reform of the EU ETS and the Market Stability Reserve to reduce excessive price volatility and investment uncertainty by limiting speculative operations;
• considers necessary to ensure a realistic and flexible energy transition which takes into account the national realities, including geomorphological conditions.