On Monday 12 May, members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy debated a draft resolution on the ‘Clean Industrial Deal’ (see EUROPE 13588/1). The text is expected to be put to the vote at the plenary session in June. There, MEPs will set out their comments, but also their grievances regarding this ‘Pact’, which is gradually being implemented by the European Commission.
Most groups welcomed the basic draft proposed by Tom Berendsen (EPP, Dutch). It agrees with the Commission on industrial priorities, but stresses the need for action. It emphasises the importance of technological neutrality and affordable energy.
The S&D, Renew Europe and Greens/EFA shadow rapporteurs asked for more support for renewable energy and a little less for fossil energy. “I regret that there is too much mention of fossil gas in the text, which must not be a solution for the future”, stressed Christophe Grudler (Renew Europe, French).
The MEP also insisted on European preference for clean products, particularly in public procurement, a point on which he was supported by several colleagues.
The PfE group agrees on some points, but the priority should be to ensure that the ‘Clean Industrial Deal’ does not become “yet another programme sacrificing our industry”, like the ‘Green Deal’, stressed Julie Rechagneux (French).
According to Tom Berendsen’s report, the political groups are well on the way to agreeing on a joint text.
See the draft resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/grt (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)