The European Commission has announced looser state aid rules to accelerate green industrial projects and offer energy price relief for heavy industries, aiming to keep Europe competitive amid U.S. and Chinese pressure.
Businesses in the European Union will have greater access to state support for green transitions under new rules unveiled by the European Commission on Wednesday. The updated framework, valid through December 2030, is a core element of the Commission’s Clean Industrial Deal, a strategy designed to revitalise European industry and ensure it remains competitive on the global stage.
The changes make it easier for governments to offer aid in the form of direct grants, tax credits, subsidised loans, or loan guarantees for projects focused on reducing carbon emissions. Support can reach up to €200 million ($232 million) or be structured according to a project’s funding gap or the outcome of a competitive bidding process.
Private investors, such as pension funds and insurers, will also find it easier to co-invest in green initiatives under the revised rules.
Vice-President of the Commission Teresa Ribera said the new rules not only streamline decarbonisation efforts but position public support as a "strategic investment" in Europe’s future.
“It’s a tool to drive climate ambition, strengthen Europe’s resilience, and ensure our industry remains globally competitive,” she said.
Eligible projects include those focused on rolling out renewable energy and low-carbon fuels, along with broader investment schemes and capacity mechanisms. Meanwhile, heavy industries like cement and chemical production may apply for temporary electricity price relief, but only if they also commit to decarbonisation investments.
However, not all industry voices are convinced. Eurometaux, a metals industry association, argued the changes fall short of simplifying the regulatory landscape. Its Director General James Watson warned that the Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework does not fully deliver on the EU’s promises of prosperity and competitiveness.
“While we welcome the investment support for critical raw material production, it is crucial to ensure that all enabling conditions are in place to support a strong and sustainable metals sector in Europe,” Watson said.
U.S. President Donald Trump personally urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to release imprisoned Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai during their meeting in ...
North Korea has condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration for imposing new sanctions it described as “antagonistic,” vowing to deli...
More than 10,000 supporters of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic rallied in Belgrade on Wednesday to show their backing for the populist leader’s p...
Japan has dispatched troops to its remote northern regions to help capture bears after local authorities reported that communities were struggling wit...
Severe flooding in southwest Wales has prompted a major incident, with emergency crews rescuing dozens of people from homes, vehicles and a care facil...
Kaja Kallas says Türkiye's ties with the European Union are vital for the bloc, despite ongoing membership talks.
A Ukrainian man suspected of coordinating the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines has begun a hunger strike, demanding respect for his fundamental rights in prison, his lawyer said on Tuesday.
For the first time in decades, the South Caucasus' political gravity appears to be shifting, with Brussels not Moscow increasingly shaping the language of ambition, reform, and legitimacy.
Ukraine is ready for peace talks but will not withdraw its troops from additional territory first as Moscow has demanded, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The Champions League match between Qarabağ FK and Chelsea has finished 2–2 at the Tofig Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku.
Brussels airport, Belgium's busiest, reopened on Wednesday morning after drone sightings during the previous night had resulted in it being temporarily closed, although some flights remained disrupted, its website said.
Israel’s top military legal officer Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, who resigned last week, has been arrested over the leak of a video showing soldiers brutally assaulting a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman military prison.
Russia remains in constant contact with Venezuela over tensions in the Caribbean, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying on Tuesday.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged to boost mutual investment and deepen economic cooperation with Russia, as Moscow faces growing Western sanctions and trade pressure.
U.S. Supreme Court justices expressed scepticism on Wednesday about the legality of President Donald Trump’s wide-ranging tariffs, in a landmark case that could have major consequences for the global economy and test the limits of presidential power.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Wednesday that she had filed a legal complaint against a man who groped and tried to kiss her as she walked between meetings in Mexico City — a day after footage of the incident went viral online.
U.S. President Donald Trump personally urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to release imprisoned Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai during their meeting in South Korea last week, according to three individuals briefed on the discussions and a U.S. administration official.
North Korea has condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration for imposing new sanctions it described as “antagonistic,” vowing to deliver a corresponding response, state media outlet KCNA reported on Thursday.
More than 10,000 supporters of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic rallied in Belgrade on Wednesday to show their backing for the populist leader’s policies, following a year of anti-government demonstrations.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment