On 26 February 2025, the European Commission published its Communication on a Clean Industrial Deal, designed to strengthen European industry while accelerating the shift to clean energy.
This plan targets energy-intensive sectors such as steel, metals, and chemicals industries that require support to decarbonize and remain globally competitive, and the clean-tech sector, given its crucial role in industrial transformation. By addressing high costs, regulatory complexities, and unfair global competition, the Deal aims to ensure Europe remains at the forefront of sustainable innovation.
On the chemicals industry in particular, the Communication maintains that the Chemicals Industry Package is set for adoption in late 2025, and that it will recognise the strategic role of the chemicals sector as “industry of industries”. The measure will propose targeted initiatives to enhance the sector’s competitiveness, modernisation, European production and innovation, and address ‘critical molecules’.
In addition, to promote affordable energy, the Commission also published an Affordable Energy Action Plan which seeks to lower costs by boosting clean energy deployment, electrification, and efficiency to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Boosting the demand for clean products is another key priority. An upcoming Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act will introduce sustainability and “Made in Europe” criteria in procurement, while a Public Procurement Framework review (2026) will further support low-carbon products.
Furthermore, over €100 billion will support clean manufacturing, including a new State Aid Framework and an Industrial Decarbonisation Bank. A Critical Raw Material Centre and central purchasing mechanism will also be set up to improve resource security, while a Circular Economy Act (2026) targets 24% circular material use by 2030. Finally, the EU will establish Clean Trade and Investment Partnerships, strengthen trade defence mechanisms, and simplify the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
Commission president Ursula von der Leyen presented and discussed the Deal with European industry in Antwerp on the same day, where ISOPA was also present. ISOPA, and the rest of the industry, expressed their support for the initiative, but urged the Commission to come with concrete actions to make it a reality. We are calling for the EU to strengthen competitiveness, implement the EU Green Deal goals, restore investments on European soil, and safeguard quality jobs. The time for strategies and discussions is over, now is the time to act.
For more information, please contact Jelle Verheij, Public Affairs and Communications Officer at ISOPA: jelle.verheij@isopa.org.
