Brussels, 25 March 2025
Today, Executive Vice-President Stephane Séjourné and Commissioner Jessika Roswall have convened key stakeholders across the chemical sector value chain to exchange views on the upcoming Chemicals Industry Package. The discussion will help to prepare targeted initiatives to enhance the sector’s competitiveness, modernisation as well as support production and innovation across Europe, while ensuring a high level of protection of human health and the environment.
Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, Stéphane Séjourné, said: “The chemical industry is the industry of industries, at the beginning of our value chains and key to fostering prosperity and quality jobs in Europe. Therefore, it is our imperative to have a competitive and resilient chemical industry here, in Europe. With the Chemical Industry Package, we will propose targeted initiatives to enhance the sector’s competitiveness and build a favourable business environment to drive growth in the chemical sector while preserving health and environment.”
Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, said: “Europe needs a strong chemicals sector to support decarbonisation and a competitive circular economy. With the Chemicals Industry Package, we will ensure that this sector remains sustainably competitive and innovative while respecting high environmental and health standards. By streamlining regulation and improving enforcement, we are creating a fairer, safer, and more sustainable market for consumers and businesses alike.”
During the event, relevant parties in the chemical supply chain and civil society had the occasion to exchange on the opportunities and challenges of the sector. Discussion points included: i) the simplification of the REACH Regulation; ii) measures to enhance competitiveness and guarantee sustainability of the EU chemicals sector; iii) how to ensure availability of key chemicals in the EU for the green transition; and iv) how to safeguard human health and the environment from toxic chemicals, including the ongoing work on PFAS. The outcome of the meeting will feed into the preparatory work on the “Chemicals Industry Package” set for adoption in late 2025, as announced in the Clean Industrial Deal.
As announced at last week’s European Council meeting, a Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the Chemical Industry in Europe will be convened at a later stage by President von der Leyen, following the Strategic Dialogues organized with the automotive sector and the steel sector.
Soure – EU Commission