Making EU state aid work for clean manufacturing

A group of nine civil society, research and cleantech organisations have called on the European Commission to introduce a more comprehensive reform of the EU's state aid rules for industry. 

The groups see the proposed Clean Industrial State Aid Framework (CISAF) as an opportunity to enhance member state support for clean technologies, drive industrial decarbonisation, and secure Europe’s place in the global economy as we strive for climate neutrality.

In a letter to the Commission, they say that a broader reform effort of EU State Aid rules is needed, going beyond minimising distortions within the EU and proposing solutions up to the level of the global challenges we are facing. 

While they welcome the prolongation and adaptation of state aid rules of the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (TCTF) through the current draft CISAF, they say it misses the opportunity to introduce an ambitious new aid framework in the context of the Clean Industrial Deal.

They call for a comprehensive revision of the draft CISAF, and more broadly of the overall EU State Aid rules, building on four key areas: 1) Simplify and Accelerate State Aid Approvals, 2) Enhance Coordination and Strategic Alignment, 3) Address Market Distortion and Innovation Lock-Out, 4) Increase Transparency and Accountability.

The letter is signed by Airborne Wind Europe, Cleantech for Europe, Climate Strategy & Partners, E3G, EUREC, the Jacques Delors Energy Centre, Negative Emissions Platform, Tech for Net Zero, and T&E.

To find out more, download the letter.