Brussels, 3 June 2025 — One hundred days after the launch of the Clean Industrial Deal (CID), implementation of the EU’s flagship initiative to decarbonise industry still falls short of its promised results. With today’s vote on the CID Report in the Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee and ahead of the upcoming Resolution, there remains a need for a democratic push to reaffirm the Deal’s role in driving a just green transition.
Earlier this year, CAN Europe cautiously welcomed the launch of the CID, hopeful it would pave the way for a forward-looking transformation underpinned by ambitious, mutually reinforcing climate and industrial strategies. Yet, the past 100 days have proven disappointing. Instead of delivering a coherent and climate-driven strategy, the Commission has presented a fragmented set of initiatives centred on deregulation, delays, and loopholes to weaken the 2040 climate target and the path towards the implementation of the European Green Deal — all of which, coupled with flexibilities in state aid provisions, risk locking the EU into continued fossil fuel dependency and weakening environmental and corporate accountability laws.
The ITRE report adopted today offers some encouraging, albeit modest, signs of a move in the right direction — particularly in its references to renewables, climate ambition, circularity, and the need for coordinated industrial policy that considers the differing fiscal capacities of Member States, essential to ensuring cohesion across the EU.
Yet the report still misses the mark in key areas. Rather than putting citizens’ rights and a fair economy first, it continues to echo a simplification narrative that disguises the erosion of social and environmental protections as increased efficiency. The text also still gives space to false solutions such as nuclear energy, carbon capture and storage, and so-called ‘low-carbon’ hydrogen — approaches that risk diverting investment away from real, cost-effective climate action.
“With the Parliament Resolution on the Clean Industrial Deal approaching, we see the need for a democratic push in the European Parliament to reaffirm the core principles of a truly green and socially just industrial transformation — one where decarbonisation and competitiveness are backed by fresh and targeted investments, serving the public interest over short-sighted corporate gains”, said Chiara Martinelli, Director at CAN Europe.
“While the Commission appears more focused on watering down existing sustainability laws than on delivering real change, an urgent course correction is needed. Now the Parliament has the chance to step in and steer the Clean Industrial Deal in the right direction, one that represents a move to stay in course with the European Green Deal, demonstrating that it truly stands for the needs of the workers and citizens it represents.”
ENDS
Notes to the editor:
- Clean Industrial Deal: Climate and decarbonisation ambitions not matched by concrete proposals
- CAN Europe’s response to the Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework consultation
- CAN Europe views on the EU 2040 climate target and discussed flexibilities
For more information and media requests:
Alessia Luzzati, Communications Assistant, alessia.luzzati@caneurope.org
Jani Savolainen, Communications Coordinator, jani.savolainen@caneurope.org
