Glass Fibre Europe, together with the glass sectors represented in Glass Alliance Europe, has submitted a comprehensive joint response to the European Commission’s consultation on the “Framework for State Aid measures to support the Clean Industrial Deal” (CISAF).
In their response, the sectors stress that enabling effective support for decarbonisation investments in the glass industry requires future framework conditions to be fully compatible with the realities of the sector. Several key aspects are highlighted, including:
- The need for support covering increased operating costs resulting from the transition to carbon-neutral energy sources, in addition to upfront investment needs;
- Recognition of the increased capacity required to meet growing demand in critical sectors – such as construction, transport, and renewable energy – driven by the EU’s climate, renewable energy, and resilience targets;
- Consideration of the specific characteristics of glass manufacturing, including continuous production processes, long investment cycles and project timelines, and the scope of product benchmarks under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).
The glass sectors are committed to working closely with the European Commission to establish robust support mechanisms that enable decarbonisation investments in our industry, while preserving fair competition. The answer to the consultation also includes an important call for further initiatives to help address the high operating costs faced by energy-intensive industries in Europe.
