Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to welcome you to the Clean Tech Conference 2025.

Today we celebrate Europes leadership in the cleantech industry. At the conference, you will meet innovators building a more sustainable Europe. You will hear from companies transforming industrial waste into construction materials and those finding solutions to decarbonize our steel and chemical sectors.

You are proof that Europes industrial cleantech renaissance has begun.

Cleantech is a European success story. However, we recognize the challenges your businesses face: high energy costs, limited access to finance, unfair global competition, and difficult sourcing of critical raw materials.

If Europe is to continue leading, we must act now. This is what the European Commission is doing. Over the past three months, we have delivered ten packages to make Europe more competitive. Let me highlight a few key points.

First, we aim to mobilize more funding for innovative companies like yours. This is where we can truly beat global competition. Our Innovation Fund has financed many groundbreaking projects, including those showcased today.

However, each call of the Fund is heavily oversubscribed, and we have to turn down many good projects. This is why we are now mobilizing 100 billion euros. We are increasing the funds firepower through the creation of an Industrial Decarbonization Bank to ensure that innovative European companies can scale up into world-leading firms.

Second, we are simplifying rules for businesses wherever we can. Our omnibus proposals have cut reporting obligations, particularly for small and medium enterprises. For instance, we are exempting 90% of importers from CBAM obligations, as they account for only 1% of emissions.

We have made permitting more straightforward so that innovative projects can get off the ground quickly. And we will soon set clear rules for low-carbon hydrogen, providing clarity to entrepreneurs and investors working to decarbonize our most energy-intensive industries.

Our climate goals remain unchanged. However, we will be more flexible and pragmatic in achieving them.

Finally, we are taking action to ensure access to critical raw materials. These minerals are the building blocks of the clean transition. Two weeks ago, we announced 47 new strategic projects within the EU to strengthen Europes supply security.

We have intensified cooperation with global partners. We concluded trade agreements with Mercosur, Mexico, and Switzerland. We launched the first Clean Trade and Investment Partnership with South Africa. We aim to conclude a free trade agreement with India by the end of the year. Intense negotiations are ongoing with Indonesia and Thailand.

This will help European firms secure the critical raw materials they need and sends a strong message to the world that Europe is open for business.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Cutting-edge clean technologies are vital for climate resilience and the protection of our nature. Ensuring their development in Europe is crucial for our prosperity. Because cleantech means entrepreneurship. It means high-quality jobs. And it means a better and more sustainable future for all Europeans.

Thank you, and I wish you a productive and successful conference.