The plan includes relaxing European state aid rules until the end of 2025, so that member states can provide support to specific industrial sectors in a flexible manner. Licensing procedures should also be simplified and accelerated. To help poor member states support their industry, the Commission wants to set up a new investment fund – the European Sovereignty Fund – before the summer.
The plan also includes a Critical Raw Materials Act to help the EU access strategic raw materials for industry, and a Net-Zero Industry Act to ensure the stability of Europe’s supply chains.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager will present details of their plan later today.