The Commission’s proposal would allow companies from non-EU countries with a free trade agreement (FTA) or public procurement deal with the bloc to qualify for ‘Made in Europe’ status — but it does not go far enough, MEP Kathleen Van Brempt, vice-chair of the INTA trade committee and an S&D shadow rapporteur for the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), told Contexte on 1 September.
“The approach of the Commission is well intended, but it’s a bad compromise between DG GROW and DG TRADE,” said Van Brempt.
Disagreements between EU Industry Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné and the Commission’s powerful trade arm delayed the IAA’s proposal multiple times.
Eventually, the Commission presented the IAA, which contains ‘Made in Europe’ requirements for subsidies and public procurement in specific sectors such as wind turbines and solar panels.
Parliament will instead start with the 27 EU member states, with the possibility of an opt-in for EU partners “based on very clear criteria” of social protection and climate policy, while taking FTAs and public procurement deals into account, the Belgian MEP said.
The upcoming joint IMCO–ITRE–INTA committee report on 10 September and subsequent amendments will detail the reciprocity terms for the opt-in, she said.
