EU Battery Alliance: joining forces in support of our European champions

Today, Vice-President in charge of the Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič is hosting the third meeting at Ministerial level under the European Battery Alliance. The objective is to bring together the significant support of the Commission, the EIB and invited Member States to cross-border manufacturing projects along the battery value chain.

Participants will in particular discuss strategic issues such as sustainable production and processing of raw materials, the use of financial instruments, State aid and Important Projects of Common Interest (PCIs), matching projects and investors through investment platform and prompting a new approach to industrial policy.

Our goal is to see European champions take the lead in the global arena. Batteries is a key strategic sector for the future of mobility and decarbonisation of our economy. Moreover, I am convinced that the EU Battery Alliance can serve as a test-bed for our future industrial policy. Today’s meeting is about showcasing what we can achieve jointly with the Member States and the European Investment Bank, to mobilise our political forces behind innovative and competitive industrial value chains.

Vice-President Šefčovič has stated ahead of this last meeting at Ministerial level on batteries under the current Commission’s mandate.

Commissioner in charge of competition Margrethe Vestager, also attending the meeting, has said:

Our State aid rules support innovation and sustainability, which are key challenges also for batteries. We have put in place special State aid rules for Important Projects of Common European Interest to facilitate cooperation between several Member States and companies to jointly design and implement risky and ground-breaking research and innovation projects, whilst ensuring that their benefits are shared widely and do not distort the level playing field in Europe. In December, we approved €1.75 billion in State aid, which unlocked significant private funding for an important project in the microelectronics sector. We are now working closely with Member States and companies to help make their plans for such projects in the field of batteries a reality.

Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, as well as the European Investment Bank, will take part in the meeting that will be followed by a press corner as of 14:30 which can be followed live on Europe by Satellite (EbS)

Video: The EU Battery Alliance: Powering the EU (February 2018)