European Commission Unveils the Clean Industrial Deal: A Roadmap for Competitiveness and Decarbonisation
On 26 February 2025, the European Commission introduced the Clean Industrial Deal, a strategic initiative aimed at aligning industrial competitiveness with the EU’s decarbonisation targets. Recognizing the challenges posed by high energy prices, geopolitical uncertainties, and global competition, the Clean Industrial Deal sets out a comprehensive roadmap to drive industrial transformation while reinforcing Europe’s economic resilience.
A Vision for Sustainable Industrial Growth
The Clean Industrial Deal is designed to accelerate the transition to a climate-neutral economy, ensuring that European industries remain competitive while reducing carbon emissions. It focuses on energy-intensive industries and clean tech, two key sectors essential for achieving the EU’s 2050 net-zero target and the intermediate 2040 goal of a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Key Pillars of the Clean Industrial Deal
The initiative is built on six key business drivers that will shape the future of European industry:
- Access to Affordable Energy – Lowering energy costs and accelerating the rollout of renewable energy and grid infrastructure to ensure competitive electricity prices.
- Lead Markets for Clean Technologies – Strengthening demand for decarbonised products through sustainable public procurement and incentivizing private investments.
- Public and Private Investments – Mobilizing over €100 billion to support industrial decarbonisation and clean tech manufacturing, including a new Industrial Decarbonisation Bank.
- Circular Economy and Resource Security – Promoting circularity to reduce dependency on critical raw materials and enhance sustainability in industrial processes.
- Global Trade and Fair Competition – Ensuring a level playing field through trade partnerships and an improved Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to prevent carbon leakage.
- Skills and Workforce Development – Supporting a just transition through reskilling initiatives, quality job creation, and social fairness policies.
A Call for Industrial Leadership
With Europe’s industry at a pivotal moment, the Clean Industrial Deal emphasizes collaboration between businesses, policymakers, and research institutions to drive innovation and green industrial transformation. The European Commission will monitor progress through key performance indicators (KPIs) and maintain an open dialogue with stakeholders.
The full communication from the European Commission is available here.
Contact: office@eseia.eu
