On the eve of the European Council summit, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed lawmakers in Strasbourg, emphasizing the need to align competitiveness with decarbonization. Von der Leyen warned that Europe risks missing out on the global clean-technology boom unless it secures control over critical technologies and raw materials. “The question for us is whether we want to reap the benefits of this global clean-tech boom or just let others profit from it,” she said.
Von der Leyen highlighted that European clean-tech exports reached €80 billion last year—nearly triple the figure from six years earlier. Globally, more than 580 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity were added in 2024, and the battery market is projected to double in size over the next five years. Wind turbine installations continue to grow at over 10 percent annually, and electric-vehicle sales in Asia, Africa, and Latin America climbed by 60 percent. By comparison, China exports almost twice as much clean technology as the EU.
She cautioned that Europe cannot afford new dependencies on foreign sources of critical raw materials, noting that a supply crisis is no longer a distant risk but “at our doorstep.” To strengthen resilience, the Commission is proposing three measures: introduce a “Made in Europe” procurement criterion for strategic sectors; ensure foreign investments genuinely serve European interests; and step up support for key industries, including batteries and automotive manufacturing.
Political group leaders shared varying perspectives ahead of the summit. Manfred Weber, chairman of the People’s Party group, pointed to recent job losses in Europe’s automotive sector and called for an ambitious yet pragmatic approach to decarbonization. Socialist and Democrats group leader Iratxe Garcia Perez urged safeguarding the EU’s 2040 emissions-reduction target and enacting a European Climate Adaptation Act alongside a strengthened Social Climate Fund.
Jordan Bardella of the Sovereignist Patriots criticized Brussels’ regulatory burden, while Greens leader Bas Eickhout warned that any rollback of the Green Deal would undermine Europe’s future. Renew’s Valerie Hayer reiterated that decarbonization is central to European competitiveness and pledged support for the Commission’s energy-transition agenda.
Source: EU News, European Commision
