EU Battery Alliance: the Commission reiterates need to boost industrial resilience, strategic autonomy, green and digital recovery

Yesterday, at a meeting between Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Andrew McDowell and high-level industry representatives, the Commission reiterated its support for a strong European battery ecosystem to strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy in key industrial ecosystems, while fostering the green and digital transition. The industry proposed an Acceleration Plan set to create up to 1 million jobs in a European battery ecosystem worth €210 billion by 2022. Vice-President Šefčovič asked to keep the momentum based on the increased uptake of electric vehicles, the expected electric vehicle production trends and EU’s prospects of self-sufficiency in the lithium industry. Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight, said: “The corona crisis has further highlighted the importance of the rationale behind the European Battery Alliance – to bolster Europe’s resilience and strategic autonomy in critical industrial sectors and in key, game-changing technologies. I am pleased to see that the private sector has kept the momentum thanks to the traction created by the Alliance. Accelerating our work is both, possible and needed. The Commission will therefore continue to mobilise all industrial actors, Member States and the EIB to shift things into a higher gear – leveraging investment, establishing a fit-for-future regulatory framework and building our raw materials resilience.” The initiatives under the European Battery Alliance will contribute to the EU’s recovery, following the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic. The full statement is available here.