The EU Commission has launched the Clean Industrial Deal (CID) and the Affordable Energy Action Plan (AEAP), marking a major step in the EU’s strategy to balance decarbonisation and industrial competitiveness. These initiatives aim to reduce energy costs, enhance resource efficiency, and strengthen the competitiveness of European industry in a rapidly evolving global market.

The CID mobilises over €100 billion to support clean manufacturing, circular economy practices, and the transition to renewable energy. The plan includes measures to lower energy costs, promote bio-based materials, and accelerate the adoption of low-carbon technologies, directly impacting energy-intensive industries such as boatbuilding and related supply chains. A Sustainable Transport Investment Plan, also part of the package, prioritises renewable and low-carbon fuels for waterborne transport, supporting the maritime sector’s shift towards greener energy sources.

Circularity is at the core of the EU’s long-term strategy, with the Circular Economy Act planned for 2026, aiming to increase the use of recycled and bio-based materials over fossil-based ones. The Commission is also working on harmonising carbon accounting methods and improving transparency through product labelling, helping businesses and consumers better assess environmental impacts.

Key aspects to the boating industry include cross-industry benefits aimed at lowering energy prices and mobilising investment for EU-made clean manufacturing. Potential regulatory changes to align industries with the future EU 2040 climate targets may influence the revision of the Recreational Craft Directive. Developing comprehensive life-cycle assessments will support the industry. Additionally, the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan includes short-and medium-term measures to prioritise support for specific renewable and low-carbon fuels for aviation and waterborne transport.

On the same day, the Commission introduced the first Regulatory Simplification package, designed to streamline compliance requirements while maintaining sustainability objectives. This package includes adjustments to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), Taxonomy Regulation, and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), with changes that delay implementation timelines, simplify reporting obligations, and rescope compliance requirements to reduce regulatory burdens for businesses.

For companies in the scope of these reporting requirements, EBI asks for feedback on these proposals and how these Regulatory Simplification packages can support them best. EBI may provide feedback to the EU Commission based on feedback from businesses.

For more information on the announcement, click here.