In 2025, the European Commission introduced the Clean Industrial Deal: A Joint Roadmap for Competitiveness and Decarbonisation, aimed at boosting Europe’s industrial competitiveness and accelerating its green transition. This initiative focuses on decarbonising energy-intensive industries like steel, cement, and chemicals, while scaling up clean technologies and promoting circular resource use.
The Deal also reduces reliance on imported raw materials, reinforcing Europe’s resource autonomy. A key element is the Chemicals Industry Package, expected by the end of 2025, which will recognise the chemical sector as a crucial part of the EU economy and support the transition to a green, circular economy.
Several legislative measures support these goals, including the Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act, which streamlines permitting for clean energy projects, and the Circular Economy Act, which facilitates cross-border circulation of waste and recyclables. The State Aid Framework will speed up support for renewables, and the Delegated Act on Low-Carbon Hydrogen will foster investments in hydrogen. The extension of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will expand carbon pricing to more sectors, ensuring global competitiveness.
In addition, a reform package endorsed by the European Parliament aims to simplify chemical safety assessments through the “One Substance, One Assessment” approach. This will improve transparency and data access, supported by a unified chemical data platform. The reform also enhances early warning systems for emerging chemical risks and strengthens cooperation between EU agencies such as the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Together, the Clean Industrial Deal and chemicals reform package marks a significant step towards a more sustainable and competitive European industry, balancing innovation, sustainability, and public health. These initiatives aim to accelerate Europe’s green transition and ensure resilience in a global green economy.
