On March 4, the European Commission adopted a regulation proposing a framework to accelerate industrial investment and decarbonisation in strategic sectors. While Glass for Europe welcomes the overall ambition to maintain industrial capacities within the EU, the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) proposal can only form part of a broader industrial policy. This policy would need to include additional measures to reduce energy prices and improve the ETS system after 2030, for example.
Despite the proposed regulation focusing on the three main end-use sectors of the industry, namely construction, automotive and transport and net-zero technologies such as solar energy applications, the strategic role of flat glass is not sufficiently recognised within the IAA itself.
Measures regarding faster permitting procedures and the creation of Industrial Acceleration Areas are welcomed, if applies to both existing and new installations. On lead markers however, Glass for Europe recommends considering an extension to flat glass products in a second phase, subject to specific conditions.
This extension would require to fine-tuning the definitions of ‘Union origin’ and ‘low-carbon products’ to make them more effective, reduce bureaucracy and prevent circumvention. Glass for Europe believes that the Union origin of flat glass products should be determined by where the glass was melted. In terms of reciprocity access to lead markets, it makes sense to allow countries that implement industrial sustainability measures that are comparable to those of the EU.
A similar logic must be applied to requirements on vehicles. To further incentivise the use of European automotive glazing, dedicated Union origin requirements for glazing components should be put in place.
For more details on Glass for Europe’s position, the full position paper is available here.