European energy intensive industries are facing unprecedented challenges: Russian invasion of Ukraine, gas shortage, exceptionally high gas and electricity prices, additional intermittent renewables, increased role of grid operators, future of nuclear plants, ambitious - but often unilateral - climate policies... All those energy and climate related challenges have a direct influence on the environmental performance and socio-economic situation of the EU industry. They also often create competition distortions within Europe and competitive disadvantages compared to their competitors in the rest of the world: North and South America, Middle East, Australia, … This structural handicap seriously jeopardizes industrial activities and further development in Europe. The EU Commission recently proposed a revised Temporary Crisis Framework and Repower EU, as well as several new industrial Acts and an electricity market reform. Several Member States successfully introduced national emergency measures to protect their critical industrial sectors during the crisis.

During the last General assembly mid June 2023, experts from EU industry discussed with several keynote speakers from the EU Commission, DG CLIMA, ACER and Eurogas to actively contribute to effective solutions for maintaining competitive industrial sectors in Europe in a sustainable manner.