For the leaders of the member states it is very important to keep the European economy and the planned climate policy alive. They see their strategy as necessary to safeguard Europe’s industrial and technological base, especially in light of the American Inflation Reduction Act, which favors American companies with subsidies. Europe fears an outflow of industries to the United States. Finally, strategic autonomy is intended to reduce dependence on China.
Complex
According to Prime Minister Rutte, further discussions will take place at an extraordinary summit in early February on how to make the EU more competitive. ‘It’s very complex. How to manage state aid, how to open up existing European programs more, how to send money to businesses more quickly,’ said the prime minister after the summit. He said action is needed “because there are two things happening at the same time.” High energy prices hit heavy industry and big business, and secondly America putting down a large sum of money, like, come here.’