Written by Nicolas d’Hanis
Dear reader,
I had hoped to present you with the new Industrial Accelerator Act, but while the Commission has postponed it once again (it is now expected on 4 March), industry and competitiveness remained at the centre this month. Among others, EU leaders held major discussions on energy, industrial resilience, and the future of European industry. Read all about it below.
The spotlight
Alden Biesen, Antwerp, and a new European impetus
The European industrial landscape is currently navigating one of the most demanding periods in its history, marked by increased global competition and a still fragmented European internal market. At the same time, energy costs have remained high ever since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Europe moving to a ban of cheap Russian gas. Following a series of high-level summits in February 2026, a clear consensus has emerged: Europe must move from diagnosis to delivery to save its industrial heart.
Antwerp calls for EU action again
On 11 February 2026, leaders of key European industries gathered for the third European Industry Summit. At the first summit in 2024, the Antwerp Declaration was issued, calling for EU action to help the industry before it was too late. A year later, the Commission built on this call to create the Clean Industrial Deal, the flagship of this mandate and the successor to the European Green Deal. Another year later, and industry was now ready to issue the Antwerp Call to Alden Biesen. The message was blunt: there is no resilient Europe without a strong European industry. With 83% of industrial key performance indicators showing no significant improvement over the past year, the Antwerp Declaration Community urged leaders to adopt an Emergency Industrial Policy Measures package for 2026. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever spoke directly on the issue of the high energy costs, and the danger for heavy industry in Europe.
Digging out a path forward in Alden Biesen
The momentum from Antwerp carried into the informal European Council retreat at Alden-Biesen Castle on 12 February 2026, where European Council President António Costa stressed that 2026 must be the year Europe delivers. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged that although investments in industrial transitions doubled to €115 billion in 2025, global pressure remains intense, noting that China now exports nearly twice as much clean technology as the EU, signalling a rapid shift in global market dynamics.
Central to this effort is the “One Europe, One Market Roadmap,” a plan to be presented in March 2026 containing measurable targets and deadlines to complete the single market by 2027. A cornerstone of this roadmap is the proposed “28th regime,” which seeks to create a new European company structure known as “EU Inc”. This framework would allow entrepreneurs to register a business fully online within 48 hours, applying a single set of rules across all 27 Member States.
The issue of energy costs
Leaders recognised energy costs remains the most significant threat to European competitiveness, with electricity prices inside the EU staying structurally higher than in competing nations. President von der Leyen pointed out a stark disparity in current energy economics: while renewables average €34 per MWh, gas prices averaged €100 per MWh last year. To combat this, the Commission is focusing on infrastructure integration by fast-tracking “Energy Highways” to allow cheap, clean energy to flow freely across borders. There is also a push for modernising energy taxation, as national taxes on electricity are currently 15 times higher than those on gas. Additionally, a reform of the European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is planned for this summer to ensure that more revenues are channelled directly back into industrial decarbonisation rather than being diverted by Member States.
What’s next?
Despite the shared sense of urgency, divisions remain regarding “Made in Europe” requirements. While France strongly advocates for European preference in public procurement, other Member States remain concerned about the impact on competition and price levels. Furthermore, the possibility of a “multi-speed Europe” has become a real option. If progress on key files keep stalling, leaders have indicated that groups of at least nine Member States may move forward through enhanced cooperation. Whilst this could allow for further integration in some Member States, it could also lead to further fragmentation of the single market, whereas economics of scale would be the best solution to high energy prices in Europe.
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Policy updates
EU at risk of raw material shortages for renewables
On 2 February, the European Court of Auditors warned that the EU remains fully dependent on imports for 10 of 26 critical raw materials, including boron for solar panels and magnesium for hydrogen electrolysers. Domestic production and recycling projects are advancing slowly due to financial and administrative barriers, and some initiatives may not be operational by 2030. The Commission acknowledged the risks and highlighted the need for improved data and potential product design changes to reduce dependency. The report recommends binding recycling targets for individual CRMs and realistic collection and recovery goals for waste streams, which the Commission will explore under the upcoming Circular Economy Act.
Industrial Accelerator Act: debate over European preference
The upcoming EU Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) has sparked a debate over the scope of European preference in supporting strategic industries. France is pushing for a broad “Made in Europe” approach to prioritise domestic producers in public procurement and industrial investment, aiming to strengthen EU-based clean and energy-intensive sectors. Germany, along with six other Member States advocates a more flexible “Made with Europe” model, allowing trusted partners such as Japan, the UK, and South Korea to participate, and reserving preference for critical technologies and strategic sectors only. The discussion has direct implications for the competitiveness of energy-intensive industries, net-zero technologies, and the automotive sector, as well as the strategic autonomy of the EU. The IAA has been postponed again, with a new publication date for 4 March.
Commission sets standards for voluntary carbon removal certification
On 3 February, the European Commission adopted a Delegated Act establishing standards for the voluntary certification of carbon removal activities under the EU Carbon Removals Framework (CRCF). The act defines criteria for quantifying removals, ensuring permanence, and addressing risks such as leakage. It covers direct air capture and storage, bioenergy carbon capture and storage, and biochar-based removals. Certified projects can demonstrate compliance with EU quality criteria, enhancing credibility and reducing the risk of greenwashing. The Delegated Act now requires ratification by the European Parliament and Council and will enter into force if no objections are raised within two months.
New consultation on the possible use of international carbon credits
On 8 February, the European Commission launched a call for evidence on a potential legal framework for using international carbon credits to help meet the EU’s 2040 climate law target. The initiative aims to clarify how the limited use of high-quality carbon credits, as outlined in the revised Climate Law, could enhance flexibility and efficiency in achieving the EU’s climate goals.
This effort is connected to two related initiatives: the revision of national targets and post-2030 flexibility options in EU climate policy, and the review of the Governance Regulation.
EU ambassadors back Commission approach on ETS2 market stability reserve
On 18 February, EU ambassadors endorsed the European Commission’s proposal for the European Emission Trading System (EU ETS2) market stability reserve without amendments. The plan extends the current reserve beyond 2030, keeping 600 million allowances in reserve and allowing up to 80 million allowances per year to be released if carbon prices exceed €45 per tonne of CO₂ equivalent. Formal approval by ministers is still required before interinstitutional negotiations can begin. In the European Parliament, rapporteur Danuše Nerudová (Czechia, EPP) has called for a more ambitious strengthening of the reserve, indicating potential divergence between Council and Parliament positions.
MEP Maran elected as new Chairman of ENVI
On 9 February, the European Parliament’s environment committee (ENVI) confirmed MEP Pierfrancesco Maran (Italy, S&D) as its new chair, in a vote widely viewed as a formality. He succeeds MEP Antonio Decaro.
Chair Maran was nominated by the S&D’s Italian delegation earlier in February. His appointment follows a pre-agreed arrangement among Parliament’s political groups at the start of the current mandate, which stipulated that ENVI’s chairmanship should go to an Italian from the centre-left.
Blog
Policy communication: why everybody talks about it
Visibility has become more and more of a priority for many organisations in Brussels. Everyone needs to be present, engaged, and most importantly, heard. With that shift policy communication has moved from a supporting tool for public affairs to a major factor in its success. But what is policy communication? And how does it really work?
Read more
