The EU’s industrial policy on batteries – New strategic impetus needed

Summary:

Batteries enable the clean energy transition and have become a key component of the competitiveness of the automotive sector. In 2018, as part of the EU’s industrial policy, the Commission designated batteries as a strategic imperative for the EU’s clean energy transition, and launched an action plan aimed at making Europe a global leader in sustainable battery production and use.

We assessed the relevance of that plan, its implementation, and the results achieved to date. We concluded that the Commission has been effective at promoting an EU industrial policy on batteries, despite shortcomings in monitoring, coordination and targeting, as well as the fact that access to raw materials remains a major strategic challenge. We make recommendations towards a renewed strategic impetus in support of the EU’s battery value chain.

• Alternative Source 1