After a final debate held on Wednesday 11 November, Member States' ambassadors to the EU adopted their conclusions on the future of industrial policy, specifically in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
The conclusions have emphasised the importance of supporting SMEs and micro-enterprises in the context of the health crisis, as well as the dual green and digital transition. Above all, the conclusions reiterated the need to achieve strategic autonomy whilst preserving the open economy, thereby crystallising two existing trends within the EU between Member States that are more in favour of a form of protectionism, and those that are more oriented towards the free-market.
During the meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives, there was a final exchange over paragraph 13, which concerns the importance of an approach that ensures affordable energy prices, while also ensuring an emissions trading scheme that is in line with the Union's climate ambition, and which also prevents carbon leakage. Some delegations would have believed that the text did not go far enough, but would have resigned themselves to supporting it, despite everything.
Austria and Luxembourg would have stressed the importance of promoting renewable energy, while some Member States in the East would have emphasised the importance of low-carbon energy. The debate remains the same, with the first two Member States being strong opponents of nuclear energy; for some Eastern Member States, however, nuclear energy represents a solution for achieving climate-neutral objectives.
The written procedure was launched on Wednesday 11 November, with a view to it being adopted before the videoconference of Internal Market and Industry Ministers, which is due to be held on 19 November.
The European Commission welcomed the conclusions, which will feed into its review of industrial strategy, due to be presented in the first half of 2021 (see EUROPE 12561/8).
To view the conclusions: https://bit.ly/3njEt4p (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)