Ref. Ares(2022)414429 - 19/01/2022
NEWS19 May 2020
The press conference following the VTC
with high-level industrial actors under the
European Battery Alliance
The press conference following the VTC with high-level industrial actors under
the European Battery Alliance; Brussels. [CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY]
• It is clear that in response to the COVID-19 crisis, we will have to put all our
muscle behind our recovery efforts. This afternoon, I therefore held a video
conference under the European Battery Alliance, with two clear objectives:
Together with high-level representatives from industry, I wanted to assess the
impact of the corona crisis on the battery ecosystem;
And I wanted to discuss ways the EU Battery Alliance can contribute to our
recovery.
• Vice-President of the European Investment Bank Andrew McDowell also
participated in this virtual meeting.
• I was pleased to see that despite the pandemic, the EU Battery Alliance has
remained on track in its crucial work.
• In addition, the participants have expressed a strong appetite for accelerating
projects along the value chain – with the objective of creating 1 million jobs in a
European battery ecosystem worth EUR 210 billion within the next two and half
years.
• The corona crisis has further highlighted the importance of the main philosophy
behind the EU Battery Alliance – that is the need to bolster Europe’s resilience and
strategic autonomy in critical industrial sectors and in key, game-changing
technologies. Accelerating our work therefore makes perfect sense.
• We have a lot to build on, here are three examples:
First, electric cars are increasingly going mainstream in Europe: their consumer
uptake is on the rise, while major car manufacturers are announcing a broader
portfolio of EV models, amounting to over 210 by 2021.
Second, we are making significant progress in becoming self-sufficient in the
lithium industry: four sustainable mining projects totalling EUR 2 billion are underway
in Europe and are set to meet up to 80 percent of Europe’s lithium needs in the
battery sector by 2025, thus boosting our strategic autonomy.
Third, Europe has seen the most rapid growth of any region in planned battery
production capacity: it is set to reach a global share of more than 14 percent by 2024,
overtaking the United States and Asia (excluding China).
• The Commission will continue to mobilise all industrial actors, Member States and
the EIB to not only implement the ongoing investments but also to shift things into a
higher gear. Again, let me give you three examples:
1. First, leveraging investment:
Five months ago, we authorised the first Important Project of the Common
European Interest led by France; the second IPCEI led by Germany is being
prepared with a view to being notified – and subsequently assessed and approved –
still this year;
In addition, there are 10 innovation-driven projects spanning 29 regions under
the Smart Specialisation Platform, with possible support from EU structural funds
(there is some EUR 7.6 billion still available);
2. Second, establishing a fit-for-future regulatory framework for batteries:
To promote our competitive edge in sustainability, performance and safety as
well as to implement the circular economy agenda for all batteries produced or sold in
Europe;
We are set to table the proposal by October, aiming for adoption by 2022 – that
is in time for the expected surge in the EV production in 2023;
3. Third, building our raw materials resilience as part of Europe’s strategic
autonomy:
Together with Commissioner Breton, we will table an action plan to address the
security and sustainability challenge of raw materials beyond lithium;
In addition, modelled on the EU Battery Alliance, we will set up a dedicated
alliance aimed at removing bottlenecks in critical raw materials supply chains for EU
industrial ecosystems;
Why this is needed: for renewable energy, e-mobility, defence, and space, the
EU is expected to need up to 18 times more lithium and 5 times more cobalt in 2030
compared to its current supply.
• Before wrapping up, I want to thank all CEOs, Vice-President McDowell as well as
EIT-InnoEnergy present at today’s video conference for their strong commitment. To
take this further, I will convene a ministerial meeting later this year.
• I am positive that the EU Battery Alliance will help us rebound stronger and more
resilient.
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