Dear Members, please see below update from MedTech Europe
The European Commission launched the ‘EU Critical Chemicals Alliance’ (link).
Background:
The recent EU Chemicals Industry Action Plan released a few months ago, indicated that such a platform would be launched, in order to support the chemical sector in view of the challenges they are facing (e.g. high energy prices, etc.) and their competitiveness in the EU.
Summary of the Alliance objectives, mandate, and composition:
This platform would be comprised of representatives from the Commission and stakeholders and tackle the main challenges affecting the sector, including:
- Set up support for Member States and stakeholders to develop criteria to identify critical production sites and molecules in the EU.
- Assist Member States and stakeholders in mapping critical molecules, which will serve as a basis for enhanced monitoring under the Customs Surveillance System, supply diversification, as well as a basis for a possible legislative proposal on critical molecules.
- Assist Member States and Regions in setting up EU Critical Chemicals Sites, to facilitate investments, innovation, improve access to funding and assist the modernization of critical production capacities.
Some concrete deliverables are envisaged as being:
- List of critical molecules and critical sites: the Alliance shall draw up and update systematically a list of critical molecules and sites for the EU, which may be addressed through dedicated policy support.
- Trade investments monitoring reports: the Alliance shall prepare trade monitoring reports providing intelligence on trade dynamics affecting the chemicals sector, such as the effects of global overcapacities and supply chain dependencies, with a focus on identified critical molecules.
- Early warning reports: these shall track potential risks of closures, job losses, and related supply chain disruptions, as well as the status and performance of ongoing investments. They shall analyze how investments are being undertaken, identify delays and their underlying causes, and assess financing needs.
Whilst the main representation in the alliance will be of the chemical manufacturers, the Alliance is nevertheless going to accept applications from a diverse group of entities including, from the whole chemical ecosystem, from upstream to downstream companies and end-costumers, as well as SMEs, public authorities, financial institutions, academia, civil society organizations and other interested parties.
