The Renew Europe Group welcomed last week’s announcements by the European Commission on the Net Zero Industry and the Critical Raw Materials Acts. Given the current geopolitical reality, Renew Europe calls for these proposals to be fast-tracked and at the centre of the European Parliament’s efforts for a secure and sustainable future. 

However, the Group reiterates that subsidising industry is not a long-term solution and must not endanger the level playing field of the Single Market. Moreover, Renew Europe stresses that the EU must also develop a smart and predictable regulatory framework to accelerate the deployment of renewables and the transition to the net-zero economy. 

Strengthening the resilience of the European Single Market, dealing with strategic dependencies, especially for key raw materials, developing new industrial alliances and sources of supply, as well as ensuring a highly skilled workforce are key to unleash the potential of European industry and reinforce the Union’s open strategic autonomy. It is essential to cut red tape, streamline access to public-private finance projects and make the regulatory framework attractive for further investment and innovation, all of which are essential for European industries and SMEs. 

Martina Dlabajová MEP (ANO, CZ), Chair of Renew Europe SME Taskforce, Co-chair of the SME Intergroup and Renew Europe Coordinator in the European Parliament Industry, Research and Energy Committee, stated: 

“While we welcome the European Commission’s proposals, it is clear that creating an addiction to subsidies risks developing destructive dependencies at the expense of our greatest strength, the European Single Market and the SMEs that are its beating heart. Instead of fuelling a subsidy race, we need to address the underlying causes of our declining competitiveness and among the first steps is to provide regulatory breathing space for businesses and cut red tape. Support for our industries, especially to SMEs, in fulfilling the ambitious goals presented by the European Commission in time and without losing competitiveness on the global market should only be targeted and balanced.” 

"While we welcome the @Eu_Commission’s proposals, it is clear creating an addiction to subsidies risks developing destructive dependencies at the expense of our greatest strength, the 🇪🇺 single market & the SMEs," says @Mdlabajova. #NZIA #CRMA

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— Renew Europe (@RenewEurope) March 16, 2023