TheDraghi Reportproposes a new strategy for the European Union (EU) to regain its global competitiveness in the midst of the energy transition. The report presents140 measures, 21 of which focus onenergy management in industry, with the aim of reconciling industrial and energy policies.
This report comes at a time when thegrowth gap between the EU, China and the USis widening. Europe faces a choice betweeninvesting more in its industryor having to choose between climate targets and competitiveness.
Key Points:
1- Reconciliation between industrial and energy policy: Decarbonization should be seen as an opportunity to strengthen competitiveness, but without excessive dependence on China. European industry needs a sound energy policy that lowers energy costs, but without compromising ecological objectives.
2- Key transformations: To make Europe competitive, the report proposes three changes:
- Accelerate innovationin clean technologies.
- Lower energy costs.
- Reduce strategic dependenceon other countries.
3- Problems identified: The report points out that thefragmentation of the European single market, the lack of joint policies and theregulatory burdenhinder the growth of competitiveness.
Proposed Actions:
- The report includes21 specific measuresfor the energy industry, such as:
- Facilitate access tocompetitive energywithin the EU.
- Promoteself-consumptionin the electro-intensive industry.
- EncouragePPAs (power purchase agreements)to ensure long-term energy supply.
Conclusions:
TheDraghi Reportwarns that if Europe does not coordinate its energy and industrial policies, it risksdecarbonization becoming an obstacle to growthand competitiveness. Currently, European companies facemuch higher energy coststhan in other powers, such as the United States, which is holding back their growth.
Energy integrationandpublic investmentin infrastructure will be essential to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy, reduce energy costs and maintain European competitiveness.
In summary, theDraghi Reportunderlines the urgency of a coherent and coordinated policy to ensure that theecological transition andEurope's competitivenessare mutually reinforcing.