Industrial Accelerator Act

Key points

The EESC:

• welcomes the Industrial Accelerator Act as a timely response to declining industrial competitiveness, external economic pressure and the need to strengthen Europe’s strategic industrial base; 

• supports the objective of raising manufacturing to 20% of EU GDP by 2035, while calling for complementary indicators on decarbonisation, electrification, resource efficiency, quality jobs and strategic autonomy;

• endorses faster and more efficient permitting, including digital procedures and acceleration areas, provided environmental safeguards, public participation, access to justice and regional balance are fully respected; 

• backs the introduction of low-carbon and “Made in EU” requirements, while calling for stronger safeguards on reciprocity, effective protection of European value chains and the inclusion of steel alongside cement and aluminium; 

• stresses that industrial transformation must be accompanied by adequate infrastructure, a skilled workforce, just transition measures, reskilling and upskilling, and social conditionalities linked to public support.

For more information please contact the INT Section Secretariat.