EU manufacturing and exportation of green energy products

Question for written answer E-002259/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Mihai Tudose (S&D)

The Eurostat report of 14 October 2024 shows a serious imbalance between EU imports and exports of green energy products.

The EU imported solar panels to the value of EUR 19.7 billion in 2023, while exporting EUR 0.9 billion worth of that product, with 98 % of the solar panels imported coming from China. At the same time, we purchase - mainly from China, Great Britain and India - almost twice as much liquid biofuel as we export, making this another product in which the EU has a negative trade balance.

On the other hand, sales of wind turbines have recovered strongly over the past two years, with EU exports increasing by 49 % to EUR 2 billion in 2023, while turbines worth EUR 0.3 billion were imported from outside the Union. That is encouraging progress.

As a member of the Committee on International Trade, I would like to know what steps the Commission envisages taking in the very near future to encourage the manufacturing and export of green energy products in the EU?

Submitted: 24.10.2024