The committee is acting out of fear that a huge US package of subsidies for, say, the production of batteries for electric cars will draw companies away from Europe. But critics warn of a run on subsidies. The commission’s plans remind a leading Brussels think tank of failed attempts to lead and foster its industry in the 1960s. Even member states such as the Netherlands, which traditionally rely on free trade, have reservations.
Standard
But non-European companies have nothing to fear, assures Von der Leyen in an interview with ANP and other press agencies of the European Newsroom partnership. ‘Anyone who meets our standards can of course enter our market.’ These questions also forced themselves on the committee, he acknowledges. “We discussed these issues. But we made a very conscious decision to adopt this open attitude.’
Among other things, the commission wants to make it easier for EU countries to help their companies with, for example, tax rebates. Poorer Member States could make use of EU funds, such as the existing Sustainable Energy Transition Fund. Furthermore, according to the chairman of the commission, “we are reducing administrative burdens” and “we are speeding up authorization procedures”.
Energy market
The EU executive board will also present proposals to improve the energy market on Tuesday. But the link between the price of gas and the price of electricity remains as far as the committee is concerned, suggests Von der Leyen. Many, especially the southern EU countries, have long been calling for a change in the situation so that expensive gas does not also drive up the price of electricity.
“The impact of the gas price on the electricity price has already been drastically reduced,” says Von der Leyen. The main focus now is to encourage long-term contracts, according to the German. He hopes to finalize the plans before next spring’s European elections.