Europe’s Green Tech Revolution - Greens/EFA plans to power the first electro-continent

Today, the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament is releasing our Clean Tech Action Plan to make Europe the world’s first electro-continent; a place where green innovation, energy independence, and economic justice go hand-in-hand. From the Middelgrunden Windmill cooperative wind farm in Copenhagen, Greens/EFA MEPs are meeting with Clean Tech industry leaders to launch our group’s plan to drive a new technological revolution aimed at revitalising Europe’s industrial base and making it fit for the future.

Bas Eickhout MEP, Greens/EFA President, comments:

"The Green Deal is working, climate action is driving Europe’s economy, but now we must go further to create the green collar jobs and industries of the future. We need to build, buy, and secure clean tech right here in Europe. For our economy, for our energy independence, and for our planet.”

“With its focus on steel, cars and chemicals, the Commission is focusing on keeping our traditional industry afloat. While they deserve support, we lack a plan to manufacture the critical technologies of the future. Europe now stands at a crossroads and needs to decide if we want to lead the global clean tech revolution, or continue to fall behind global competitors. Industrial nationalism and deregulation pushed by the (far)right are clearly unable to compete with coordinated industrial policy. Europe needs to urgently step up its game.

“Cleantech is our economic defence policy, and in our view, it needs the same sense of urgency and political determination. We need European investments and coordination. We need to innovate and expand our manufacturing base, ensure demand for cleantech made in Europe and enable European industry to stand global competition."

Terry Reintke MEP, Greens/EFA President, comments:

“The European Commission needs to launch a Clean Tech Action Plan backed by a series of concrete legislative and financial tools to support the full length of the supply chain; from raw materials and skilled workers, to grid infrastructure and green innovation.

“The EPP’s obsession with technologies of the past is a roadmap to gridlock and Europe is falling behind in the global race for the economic, technical and industrial pole position. We want to invest in Clean Tech which will massively boost our economy, create quality jobs and support manufacturing here in Europe.

"The EU should increase financial investments into up-skilling and reskilling programmes to ensure we have the skilled workers we need. Clean Tech is the solution to ensure that we can rebuild communities and bolster investment in areas of Europe that suffer from post-industrial decline.

”To harness the full potential of Clean Tech, we must support both the technology and the workers. Key sectors such as solar panels, batteries and wind turbines must be supported, including with massive investments in their development and commercialisation. Workers must be entitled to individual training during working hours. Europe now has a unique opportunity to provide more economic prosperity, security and employment, while safeguarding the environment it depends on. We must seize it.”

More:

Greens/EFA Clean Tech Action Plan “Europe’s Green Tech Revolution - Greens/EFA plans to power the first electro-continent”

https://www.greens-efa.eu/en/article/policypaper/europes-green-tech-revolution

The Greens/EFA Group are in Copenhagen this week for our group retreat and visiting the Middelgrunden Windmill cooperative. Should you wish to arrange interviews with our MEPs on this, please do not hesitate to get in touch.