The Antwerp Declaration Community (ADC), composed of 1300+ companies, associations, and trade unions across Europe, met today during the European Industry Summit, and ahead of the European Council meeting in Alden Biesen, to call on EU heads of state and government for urgent and bold action concerning European industry.
The key message: There is no resilient, nor safe, nor strong Europe, without a strong European industry. And we are failing to deliver it.
With only 11% of the Draghi recommendations implemented so far, and industries continuing to face persistently high energy and carbon costs and unfair trade practices, Europe needs a package of Emergency Industrial Policy Measures to reverse its fortunes and secure a competitive and resilient future for its member states.
The ADC’s recommendations are threefold:
Bring energy costs down
Support fair global trade and improves access to finance
Be proud to buy products made in Europe
These recommendations are in line with Hydrogen Europe’s position that the EU promptly implement the recommendations of the Draghi report in order to boost Europe’s competitiveness on the global stage, that Made in Europe policies support the scale up of domestic clean tech manufacturing capacity – including renewable and low carbon hydrogen, where Europe can still retain a significant global market share.
“Europe must nurture its clean tech and industry now to set itself up for a sustainable and resilient future. Supporting low-carbon, Made in Europe products through demand creation policies, notably with the use of lead markets in key sectors such as steel and fertilisers, will embark us on a path of reindustrialisation that will ensure a green and secure Europe,” said Hydrogen Europe’s CEO Jorgo Chatzimarkakis.
Daniel Fraile, Chief Policy & Market Officer adds that “Today’s recommendations must be complemented by Europe enhancing, rather than undermining, important tools like the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) that clean tech industries count on. Staying consistent and ensuring predictability for investors is paramount.”
Read the call to action here
