European Industrial Pact: Towards Enhanced Energy Competitiveness

The European Union needs to integrate a new Industrial Pact to guarantee competitive and secure energy, which is essential to the sustainability of energy-intensive industries.

Share:

Pacte Industriel Européen Énergie

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2€/month*
then 14.90€ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

The European Union (EU) must rise to the challenge of supplying its industries with competitive and secure energy to maintain its competitiveness on the world stage. Energy-intensive industries such as chemicals, steel, aluminum, copper and cement are vital to the European economy. Their production is directly impacted by energy costs, which have been strongly influenced by the recent energy crisis.
To remedy this situation, it is crucial to put in place a policy framework that promotes access to clean, affordable energy. A new European Industrial Pact could provide the necessary stability, enabling companies to invest in modernizing their facilities while remaining competitive. This Industrial Pact echoes the Green Pact, the European Union’s environmental roadmap.

Impacts of the Energy Crisis

The recent energy crisis has highlighted the vulnerability of energy-intensive industries to fluctuations in energy prices. Many companies had to cut back on production, with significant economic repercussions. According to theInternational Energy Agency (IEA), without the increase in photovoltaic and wind power capacity between 2021 and 2023, electricity prices would have been even higher, resulting in additional costs for industries and consumers.
It is therefore imperative for the EU to strengthen its energy infrastructure and diversify its energy sources in order to stabilize prices and guarantee uninterrupted supplies.

Synergy between Industry and Energy

The competitiveness of European industries is closely linked to their ability to access affordable energy. For example, steel production requires a great deal of electricity, and the cost of energy represents a significant proportion of its production costs. Similarly, the chemical and cement industries are heavily dependent on energy prices to maintain their operations.
To meet these needs, a European Industrial Pact must promote collaboration between the energy and industrial sectors. This includes investment in infrastructure for renewable energy production and regulation that promotes business competitiveness.

Investment and Partnership Strategies

Investments in renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency can help reduce costs over the long term. Strategic partnerships between energy producers and energy-intensive industries are essential to guarantee stable supplies at competitive cost.
In addition, it is crucial to develop policies that encourage innovation and investment in new energy technologies. This will not only reduce energy costs, but also position Europe as a world leader in clean technologies.
The adoption of a new European Industrial Pact is essential to ensure the competitiveness of energy-intensive industries. By promoting stable energy policies and supporting investment in energy infrastructure, the EU can guarantee a competitive and secure energy supply, thereby strengthening its global economic position.

Cameroon will adopt a customs exemption on industrial equipment related to biofuels starting in 2026, as part of its new energy strategy aimed at regulating a still underdeveloped sector.
Facing a persistent fuel shortage and depleted foreign reserves, the Bolivian parliament has passed an exceptional law allowing private actors to import gasoline, diesel and LPG tax-free for three months.
Ghana aims to secure $16 billion in oil revenues over ten years, but the continued drop in production raises doubts about the sector’s long-term stability.
The government of Kinshasa has signed a memorandum of understanding with Vietnam's Vingroup to develop a 6,300-hectare urban project and modernise mobility through an electric transport network.
ERCOT’s grid adapts to record electricity consumption by relying on the growth of solar, wind and battery storage to maintain system stability.
The French government will raise the energy savings certificate budget by 27% in 2026, leveraging more private funds to support thermal renovation and electric mobility.
Facing opposition criticism, Monique Barbut asserts that France’s energy sovereignty relies on a strategy combining civil nuclear power and renewable energy.
The European Commission is reviving efforts to abolish daylight saving time, supported by several member states, as the energy savings from the practice are now considered negligible.
Rising responses to UNEP’s satellite alerts trigger measurement, reporting and verification clauses; the European Union sets import milestones, Japan strengthens liquefied natural gas traceability; operators and steelmakers adjust budgets and contracts.
The Finance Committee has adopted an amendment to overhaul electricity pricing by removing the planned redistribution mechanism and capping producers' profit margins.
The European Commission unveils a seven-point action plan aimed at lowering energy costs, targeting energy-intensive industries and households facing persistently high utility bills.
The European Commission plans to keep energy at the heart of its 2026 agenda, with several structural reforms targeting market security, governance and simplification.
The new Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)–Japan Innovation Party (Nippon Ishin no Kai) axis combines a nuclear restart, targeted fuel tax cuts and energy subsidies, with immediate effects on prices and risk reallocations for operators. —
German authorities have ruled out market abuse by major power producers during sharp price increases caused by low renewable output in late 2024.
A new International Energy Agency report urges Maputo to accelerate energy investment to ensure universal electricity access and support its emerging industry.
Increased reliance on combined-cycle plants after the April 28 blackout pushed gas use for electricity up by about 37%, bringing total demand to 267.6 TWh and strengthening flows to France.
The United States announces a tariff increase beyond the 10% base rate targeting several Colombian products. Bogotá has recalled its ambassador. The detailed list of tariff lines has not yet been published, while Colombia’s ban on coal exports to Israel remains in effect.
The president-elect outlines a pro-market agenda: gradual reform of fuel subsidies, review of Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos (YLB) lithium contracts, and monetization of gas transit between Argentina and Brazil, prioritizing supply stabilization.
A three-year partnership has been signed between Senegal and two Quebec-based companies to develop the country’s geoscientific capacity and structure its energy sector through technological innovation.
The South African government plans 105,000 MW of additional capacity by 2039 to redefine its energy mix, support industrialisation, and strengthen supply security.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2€/month*
then 14.90€ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.