STRASBOURG — Europe should protect its share of market from global competitors’ investment in green tech, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday.
Von der Leyen said European Union leaders will discuss the issue during their Thursday summit.
“The clean transition is in full swing,” she said during a debate in the European Parliament, pointing out how every year, hundreds of gigawatts of energy are added globally. “Clean-tech markets around the world are booming,” including batteries, wind turbines and electric cars. “The rise in clean tech in Europe is also good news for energy security, and it is a great economic opportunity,” she added.
Yet, she warned, Europe in the past missed out on chances to lead on green industry, with the loss of the solar panel industry to more competitive Chinese companies being “a cautionary tale that we must not forget.”
