EU postpones adoption of Law on Accelerating Industrial Production amid disagreement over "Made in Europe" rules
The European Commission has postponed the presentation of new industrial policy measures in accordance with the Industrial Acceleration Act (IAA) by one week due to internal disagreements over proposed local content requirements, Reuters reports.
This proposal was originally scheduled for February 26, but now, according to the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Stefan Sedgerne, it will be presented on March 4. The purpose of the postponement is to conduct additional negotiations between Member States and interested parties.
The "Made in Europe" supplier selection rules are at the center of the debate
The Law on Accelerating Industrial Production is expected to set minimum local content thresholds for industrial components used in government-funded projects in strategic sectors, including batteries, solar energy, wind energy, and nuclear technology.
This initiative is part of the broader EU Clean Industry program aimed at strengthening Europe's industrial base and competitiveness in the face of increased global competition, especially from the United States and China.
Concerns about competitiveness and impact on investment
However, the opinions of the EU member States on this proposal are still divided. Countries such as France strongly support stricter "buy European" regulations to shield domestic industry from cheaper imports produced according to less stringent environmental standards. Other countries, including Sweden and the Czech Republic, have warned that mandatory rules on local content could lead to higher procurement costs, deter investment, and reduce the EU's global competitiveness.
Meanwhile, industry stakeholders such as car manufacturers have called for broader selection criteria that go beyond EU and EFTA members and include closely integrated supply chain partners, particularly the UK and Turkey.
Author: SteelOrbis Editorial Team
Steelorbis.com