MILAN (ITALPRESS) – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is breaking the deadlock and with only a few weeks to go before the vote in Germany writes to compatriot Ursula von der Leyen to call for a bigger push from the Commission on the competitiveness front and support for the automotive industry. This is reported in an exclusive report by MilanoFinanza, signed by editor Roberto Sommella and Elena Dal Maso, in possession of a dossier in which the resigning head of the Berlin government expresses all his concerns about the competitiveness of the EU and Germany itself, bent by global competition and especially Chinese competition in cars, and asks the Commission chairwoman for specific initiatives and a “summit” on the steel industry, as well as a renewed commitment on the front of the historic Franco-German alliance. In the lengthy document sent to von der Leyen, no less than seven pages packed with considerations, Scholz touches on several issues, which have as their common denominator the EU’s ability to be strong and competitive in the markets. The outgoing chancellor stresses that “what is urgently needed now is a joint European effort to reduce bureaucratic costs and increase the innovative capacity of our companies.” The goal now, the paper explains, is to “reduce strategic dependencies and bring the EU to the forefront in key areas such as climate-friendly technologies, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, aerospace, biotechnology, robotics, mobility, and chemicals. We need to be able to provide targeted support to companies, particularly in strategically important sectors with highly innovative technologies. This requires faster decision-making processes and better tools: and it also applies to the state aid regulatory framework.” The paper stresses the urgency of reducing red tape on the shoulders of European companies (“reporting requirements”) especially in the areas of the Sustainability Directive (CSRD), EU Taxonomy and the European Supply Chains Directive (CSDD). The standards (ESRS) under the Sustainability Directive alone “require more than 1,000 potential data (to be provided, ed.). “Scholz calls for more “support for the expansion of renewable energy,” which in recent years has made an “important contribution to accelerating … the independence of energy supply in Germany.” It is now necessary to extend the “measures taken so far…to other infrastructure and transformation projects, in particular district heating networks, heat generators and hydrogen infrastructure.” As for the auto sector, Scholz calls for “avoiding the penalties” associated with the entry into force in the EU in 2025 of new targets on carbon dioxide emissions. A discussion that “disquiets car manufacturers and consumers.” Germany, Scholz confirms, “supports the goals of the regulation” of an EU toward environmental sustainability, but the politician stresses that car companies, meanwhile, should not “be … particularly hampered by sanctions during the transformation, weakened by those (such as China, ed.) investing heavily in green driving technologies.” Instead, “more investment in electric mobility at the European level is needed … to expand the infrastructure on charging networks in all member states.” And this is the first demand on the auto sector of three.The second demand in this regard, is “a European-wide initiative to incentivize the purchase of electric cars. There is an urgent need for further impulses to accelerate the start of electric mobility and support manufacturers, meet European requirements for the transition to climate-friendly technologies.” And in this regard, Scholz calls for “a tax deduction … on vehicles produced in Germany.” However, Scholz adds, “a boost at the European level would be extremely helpful and would have the effect of significantly increasing the national efforts of member states.” And he calls for immediate action by the European Commission in this regard. An agreement with China on tariffs on electric cars is likewise considered a “top priority” (third point).The document highlights that it is crucial to support energy-intensive sectors because of international competition (the sale of Chinese steel at lower prices than European steel is a major issue in the EU). To protect the steel industry, the foundation of Defense, Scholz asks the EU Commission for a European steel summit in early 2025. -photo Photo Agency-(ITALPRESS).
