The announcement of the notification of the project led by France within the framework of the European Battery Alliance as an ‘important project of common European interest’ (IPCEI) could take place at the end of next week, Thursday 3 or Friday 4 October, according to information gathered by EUROPE on Thursday 26 September.
In concrete terms, this means that, by being recognised as an IPCEI, the project coordinated by France, which is part of an attempt to develop a European value chain in the battery sector, from the extraction of rare materials to the recycling of batteries (see EUROPE 12245/13), will be eligible for State aid without fear of sanctions from the European Commission.
“I want to pay tribute to the excellent co-ordination work by France. And I do hope that we will have a concrete announcement very soon”, said Maroš Šefčovič, Commission Vice-President responsible for Energy Union, at a press conference in the afternoon.
This first IPCEI, which brings together seven Member States (France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Finland, Belgium, Sweden) and 18 companies, is expected to lead to the establishment of a first pilot plant in 2020 in Aquitaine and a first mass production plant in 2022, also in France. The first would create 200 jobs and the second between 2,000 and 3,000.
A second project, coordinated by Germany this time, also aimed at establishing European champions in the battery sector, is still awaiting notification as an IPCEI and is expected to be launched in 2024. (Original version in French by Damien Genicot - intern)