The EU Industry Days are being held in Málaga, Spain, from 4 to 6 October. Many politicians and industry representatives from all over the EU are attending. On the first day, several of them looked at the subject of transition and the tools deployed by the EU to support industry in decarbonising.
Whether it is about the Green Deal, the Net-Zero Industry Act or the Critical Raw Materials Act, many players are calling for clarity and above all simplicity in the rules.
To achieve this, a constant dialogue with businesses is needed, says Alejandro Abellán García de Diego, Director General for Internal Market Coordination at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Companies have to adapt their manufacturing processes, and this comes at a cost. That’s why it has to be done in consultation. A smooth transition is necessary, because these companies provide jobs as well as crucial products”, he insisted during a panel discussion.
The case of the Critical Raw Materials Act was given as a concrete example where the EU will have to be vigilant. “The ambition of this act is good, but what is not clear is what it will really deliver”, said Mikael Staffas, Chair of the metals company Boliden SA.
He called for greater predictability: “The most important thing is not to be able to remove things that are already in place. We have examples in Sweden where existing mines are under threat because of environmental permits. And with cases like this, we become more cautious to invest later”. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)