IG Metall welcomes the EU Commission’s proposed extension of the transition period for electric vehicles and batteries in the trade and cooperation agreement with the United Kingdom by three years. The EU member states are now called upon to quickly decide on this proposal and implement it in the Partnership Council with the British side.
Rules of origin are intended to ensure that products “Made in the EU” have a high proportion of European added value and employment. In our opinion, exceptions to this can only be of a temporary nature.
Unfortunately, we find that scaling European battery cell production – despite encouraging investment decisions and announcements – cannot keep pace with growing demand. We will therefore still have to rely on purchases from third countries in the coming years. The alternative of reducing the production capacity of battery-electric vehicles should not be an option from an employment policy perspective alone. In combination with a massive increase in the price of EU exports due to import duties, this important market would be left to competitors from third countries, not least from China.
In addition to the rapid extension of the transition period, it is important in terms of industrial policy to further accelerate the development of European battery cell production. IG Metall welcomes the EU Commission’s announcement that it will provide a further 3 billion euros for a dedicated instrument for the battery value chain as part of the innovation fund.