EU leaders, who will meet on Thursday 9 and Friday 10 February in Brussels for an extraordinary summit, are expected to call for a “comprehensive approach” to respond to the US IRA and thereby strengthen Europe’s “sovereignty and strategic autonomy”, according to a draft set of conclusions of which EUROPE has a copy.
This approach would be broken down into several strands of action: - in the short term, simplify and accelerate procedures for granting State aid in strategic sectors for the green and digital transitions while preserving a level playing field in the single market; - fully mobilise existing funds and financial instruments; - advance financial “solidarity”, “building notably on the success of the SURE programme” to support national unemployment insurance schemes during the Covid-19 pandemic, and through the “rapid” proposal for a “European Sovereignty Fund”.
Echoing European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s proposals from Davos (see EUROPE 13101/9), the draft conclusions call for a regulatory initiative to simplify and accelerate the implementation of clean technology investment projects and to adapt public procurement rules to stimulate ‘green’ industry. The development of workers’ skills is also emphasised, as well as the conclusion of “ambitious” trade agreements and easier access to critical raw materials.
See the draft conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/525 (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)