Source: European Parliament
Question for oral answer O-000010/2025
to the Commission
Rule 142
Giorgio Gori, Wouter Beke, Jana Nagyová, Mariateresa Vivaldini, Brigitte van den Berg, Benedetta Scuderi
on behalf of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Energy-intensive industries (EIIs) are the backbone of the European economy and play a key role in job creation, especially in areas and regions where they are concentrated. They are crucial for reinforcing the EU’s strategic autonomy and competitiveness and for advancing the decarbonisation of our economy, as outlined by the Clean Industrial Deal. EIIs are currently faced with significant challenges: high and volatile energy prices, the complex transition towards clean and efficient production processes, unnecessary administrative burdens, the lack of adequate public and private investment, the EU’s dependencies and its limited access to primary and secondary raw materials, together with the lack of a functioning circular economy, unfair competition from non-EU countries and the impact of the transition on regions and workers across the EU.
- 1.What further action is the Commission considering to implement the electricity market design, especially to promote power purchase agreements and two-way contracts for difference, and to implement urgent measures to address existing barriers? Will the Commission bring forward the analysis of the short-term markets to 2025 to assess additional ways to decouple fossil fuel prices from electricity prices, including with the aim of boosting long-term contracts in line with the electricity market design and the affordable energy action plan, and to transfer the affordable cost of renewable energy sources to energy consumers, in particular EIIs? How will the Commission enhance the transparency of energy and CO2 markets?
- 2.How does the Commission plan to increase public and private investment in the decarbonisation of EIIs in the short term? Will the Commission consider increasing funding in the upcoming multiannual financial framework and will it develop specific measures directed at EIIs, including SMEs?
- 3.How will the industrial decarbonisation accelerator act simplify and favour the decarbonisation of EIIs, including speeding up the permitting process?
- 4.What concrete steps will the Commission take to make recycling critical raw material waste within the EU more attractive than exporting it, considering its economic and environmental importance? This would reduce EU dependence on external suppliers and increase resource efficiency and the availability of secondary raw materials, such as steel and metal scrap, in quantity and quality, which are essential to decarbonise our industry.
- 5.What concrete steps will the Commission take to monitor, in a timely manner, the effectiveness of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, taking into account the impact of the parallel phaseout of the emission trading system free allowances, and to implement solutions for EU exporters and avoid any form of circumvention practices to ensure a level playing field, in particular for EIIs?
- 6.What kind of permanent solution is the Commission considering to urgently address structural subsidised overcapacities, which put our industries at a competitive disadvantage?
- 7.Will the Commission issue recommendations to tie public funding supporting the anticipation and management of change and the industrial transition to the commitment to safeguard employment and working conditions in the EU and prevent offshoring?
Submitted: 19.3.2025
Lapses: 20.6.2025