At an informal meeting held in Bucharest on Friday 3 May, European Ministers of Economy and Industry have agreed in general terms on the need to do everything possible to achieve a carbon-neutral economy in the long-term.
They also stressed the need to strike a fair balance between environmental issues and competitiveness in order to preserve the European industrial fabric, in particular that which is based on high energy consumption.
This was highlighted by the Commissioner for the Internal Market and Industry, Elżbieta Bieńkowska. Talking to the press, she quoted a minister who had noted during the discussions that energy-intensive industry would, in the future, be at the forefront of the fight against climate change. However, according to the same minister, EU industry must not be at the expense of its own competitiveness.
The Commissioner noted that the European Commission will present a detailed plan to support European industry at the end of 2019, and one which is in line with the conclusions of the most recent European Council (see EUROPE 12218/4).
The exchanges held during lunch, which were entirely dedicated to the energy-intensive industrial sector, would have been consensual. Some ministers stressed the need to include the question over these industries in energy policies, specifically with regard to raw materials and energy prices, one source explained.
Several delegations have also highlighted how important it is that environmental policy is taken into account in this industry. This item will be discussed at the Competitiveness Council on 27 May.
Ministers have also discussed the need for a training and education system that is more entrepreneurial in nature, as well as being based on e-skills.
They also discussed the internal market and how best to support SMEs and start-ups. During the discussions, most ministers welcomed the adoption of the Regulation pertaining to compliance and enforcement of European rules, which will play a key role in strengthening the smooth running of the internal market (see EUROPE 12184/21).
At the conference, the Commissioner stressed that the greatest danger to the European economy was not climate change, but the fragmentation of the internal market, noting that at international level, the Union had to face "continental economies". (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)