Part B of this report provides an extensive evaluation of the challenges and opportunities facing Europe’s competitive position across multiple sectors, including energy, critical raw materials, digitalization, clean technologies, automotive, and space industries. The report underscores the need for transformative action to address high energy prices, supply chain bottlenecks, and dependence on external markets, particularly for raw materials and energy. Sectoral analyses highlight Europe’s vulnerability to energy price volatility, urging for greater investment in renewables, nuclear energy, and infrastructure to support grid expansion and storage capabilities. Moreover, the report discusses the need for improved governance, innovation acceleration, and labor market reforms to close the skills gap and boost research and development efforts. With energy costs significantly higher than in the U.S. and Asia, the report emphasizes the urgency for Europe to lower costs through better resource allocation and diversification of energy imports. It outlines proposals for targeted actions, such as joint gas procurement, power purchase agreements, and grid improvements. The transition to a greener economy is seen as a major avenue for enhancing competitiveness, with Europe’s decarbonization pathway offering a long-term opportunity to reduce its dependency on fossil fuels and strengthen its position globally.
Authors
- Pages
- 328
- Published in
- Belgium
Table of Contents
- Sectoral policies 3
- 1. Energy 4
- The starting point 4
- Objectives and proposals 25
- 2. Critical raw materials 44
- The starting point 44
- Objectives and proposals 57
- 3. Digitalisation and advanced technologies 67
- Introduction 67
- 3.1 High-speed/capacity broadband networks 69
- The starting point 69
- Objectives and proposals 74
- 3.2 Computing and AI 77
- The starting point 77
- Objectives and proposals 82
- 3.3 Semiconductors 86
- The starting point 86
- Objectives and proposals 89
- 4. Energy-intensive industries 92
- The starting point 92
- The perspective moving forward 103
- Objectives and proposals 105
- 5. Clean technologies 116
- The starting point 116
- Objectives and proposals 133
- 6. Automotive 140
- The starting point 140
- Objectives and proposals 152
- 7. Defence 159
- The starting point 159
- Objectives and proposals 168
- 8. Space 172
- The starting point 172
- Objectives and proposals 183
- 9. Pharma 187
- The starting point 187
- Objectives and proposals 199
- 10. Transport 205
- The starting point 205
- Objectives and proposals 218
- Horizontal policies 227
- 1. Accelerating innovation 228
- The starting point 228
- Objectives and proposals 245
- 2. Closing the skills gap 257
- The starting point 257
- Objectives and proposals 270
- 3. Sustaining investment 280
- The starting point 280
- Objectives and proposals 292
- 4. Revamping competition 298
- 5. Strengthening governance 307
- Refocusing the work of the EU 310
- Accelerating the work of the EU 315
- Simplifying rules 317
