The EU’s existing policies are not fit for today’s challenges:
> EU funding programmes are largely horizontal or generic in nature...
> ... whereas we need policies that steer demand into specific sectors where the EU can gain or retain a competitive position.
> EU programmes are largely geared twds early stages of tech development – like R&D – or final deployment and user uptake. Support for manufacturing is lacking.
> Magnitude of EU funds is very far from the estimated investments required to meet net-zero emissions targets.
The EU should shape its new sector-specific clean tech industrial policies by making them
> selective
> firm-neutral
This means focussing on sectors whose competitiveness can be realistically defended or restored, based on strategic value, cost and production structure, patenting...
Steering European demand to EU clean tech production is essential. Europe should not let China’s subsidised competition exploit incentives given to European consumers: the Commission’s recent Competitiveness Compass rightly proposes that public procurement should follow a buy-European approach.
Comments
> EU funding programmes are largely horizontal or generic in nature...
> ... whereas we need policies that steer demand into specific sectors where the EU can gain or retain a competitive position.
> Magnitude of EU funds is very far from the estimated investments required to meet net-zero emissions targets.
> selective
> firm-neutral
This means focussing on sectors whose competitiveness can be realistically defended or restored, based on strategic value, cost and production structure, patenting...