Equity must be present in the system because some have already invested and succeeded in meeting the goals, but also, the amount of flexibility and pragmatism needed to solve this complex problem,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a press conference when asked if she guarantees the automotive sector that they will not have to pay fines under current legislation.
“It is a problem that should not be looked at individually, but we are looking at it as part of the package we have on the table. That is the goal of the dialogue on the automotive sector. “Very important is also the clear speed because, of course, certain expectations must be met or uncertainties must be excluded. And so it is more a matter of weeks than months that we are talking about.” For the Green Deal, “we stay on course. “There is the same goal, but we want to achieve it better and faster, and for this, we need to reduce complexity. Talk to the companies.” “Modernization, software-driven mobility, electrification of the automotive industry – for example – are the markets of the future, but to get there, let’s try to be less complex, less complicated, and faster.”
“The Compass for Competitiveness transforms the excellent recommendations of the Draghi report into a roadmap. Now we have a plan. We have the political will. What matters is speed and unity. The world is not waiting for us. All member countries agree. Let’s turn consensus into action.” “Europe has everything it needs to succeed in the race to the top. But at the same time, we need to address our weaknesses to regain competitiveness,” she emphasized. “Closing the innovation gap, accelerating decarbonization, reducing energy dependencies” are the three pillars of the Compass presented in a press conference by Ursula von der Leyen and EU Commission Executive Vice President Stephane Sejourné.
“This year we will launch a broad strategy on Artificial Intelligence, which also includes the so-called AI factories, which allow companies to develop models for supercomputers. A second element for the growth of startups is improving access to capital. Now innovative companies, if they want to grow, must meet the requirements of 27 legal systems, we want to propose a 28th system to them, which will be optional and will contain a series of simple rules,” explained von der Leyen.
The President of the Commission then focused on “the lack of an efficient capital market, especially regarding venture capital. For this reason, we will present a Union of Savings and Investments, with incentives for venture capital and new savings and investment products.” “The second crucial element for our startups to grow is access to venture capital. I want to give you some figures. If you look at global venture capital, only 5% is raised in the European Union, 52% in the United States, and 40% even in China. We do not lack capital,” von der Leyen explained.
“The EU and Jordan stand side by side to help each other address the extraordinary challenges we all face. Given the current geopolitical changes and the growing crises in the region, strengthening the partnership between the EU and Jordan is the right decision at the right time,” said the President of the European Commission on the occasion of the agreement signing with Amman. “Jordan – von der Leyen continued – is a key partner for Europe in the Middle East and the Mediterranean, as a pillar of regional stability. Jordan has shown immense generosity by hosting millions of refugees and has been deeply committed to promoting peace and security in the region and the world. Jordan is playing a fundamental role in consolidating the ceasefire in Gaza, and the EU recognizes the importance of Jordan as a regional hub for humanitarian assistance. Jordan’s leadership in supporting the transition in Syria highlights its central role in shaping the region’s future.”
EU automakers “should not be penalized” by fines that will come into effect this year for those who do not comply with the CO2 emissions reduction targets set by EU regulations. On the eve of the start of the much-anticipated Strategic Dialogue on the future of the automotive sector, EU Commission Vice President responsible for industrial strategy, Stéphane Séjourné, in an interview with Le Figaro, asked not to “penalize” automakers that the EU should support.
“On the issue of fines related to the quotas of clean vehicles sold in 2025, I personally find it strange to penalize actors we are trying to help,” explained Sejourné, emphasizing that competitors “especially those from China, do not have the same constraints.” The Commission Vice President insisted that “this is one of the first decisions we need to make quickly for the sector,” hinting at a possible U-turn by Brussels on the issue during the start of the dialogue. To bypass the sanctions, several automakers have organized themselves into pools to appear as a single manufacturer for the purpose of complying with EU obligations on emissions and ‘compensating’ for any gaps by purchasing carbon credits from electric vehicle companies.
Reproduction reserved © Copyright ANSA
