26 February 2025 - Today the European Commission published the Clean Industrial Deal and the Omnibus proposal.
Reaction on Clean Industrial Deal and security/gas
Ursula Woodbrun, Director, Corporate Leaders Group Europe
“Three years on from the invasion of Ukraine, Europe must not repeat the mistakes of the past and lock in dependence on imported fossil fuels, including gas. We will be calling for the Clean Industry Deal, Action Plan for Affordable Energy and linked initiatives to ensure Europe’s future security – achieving decarbonisation and resilience by driving electrification, increasing renewables and boosting energy efficiency.”
Reaction on Clean Industrial Deal and 240 target
Romain Pardo, Senior Programme Manager, Corporate Leaders Group Europe
"Leading businesses had hoped the European Commission would propose the amendments to the Climate Law alongside the Clean Industrial Deal, which would have provided a clear sense of direction towards a 90% greenhouse gas emissions reduction target by 2040. This would reinforce confidence of businesses asking for a predictable framework and long-term vision. The opportunity has unfortunately been missed and the Commission must course correct with a release of amendments as soon as possible."
Reaction on Clean Industrial Deal and demand side management
Adeline Rochet, Programme Manager, Corporate Leaders Group Europe
"Greening the industrial supply alone won’t put the economy on the path to sustainability. The Commission seems to understand this and has increased its focus on growing demand for clean products and services, increasing their competitiveness and providing with the predictability businesses need for the significant investments required. However, the proposed instruments, such as non-price criteria in procurements or carbon intensity labelling, are non-binding, meaning their implementation is uncertain. Moreover, there is no alignment in sight for national tax incentives with the European policy objectives, when this would play a crucial role in the shift towards sustainable consumption patterns at the citizens level. The overall direction is there, but future plans will need stronger propositions to enable future-proof markets to take off."
Reaction on the investment proposals in the Clean Industrial Deal
Jonathan Barth, Senior Advisor, CISL
"Green technologies need to be profitable. However, de-risking investments with an additional €100 billion won’t be sufficient if the lack of profitability stems from the higher operating costs of green technologies. Moving forward, the EU must ensure that it mobilizes sufficient funding from member states to close the price gap between clean and dirty technologies, for example, through European Carbon Contracts for Difference"
Reaction on Omnibus
Tsvetelina Kuzmanova, EU Sustainable Finance Lead, CISL
"This is a clear signal that the EU is bending under political pressure at home and abroad. In doing so, it is risking the integrity of the ESG framework it worked so hard to build. This was an opportunity to streamline ESG rules by making them clearer and more effective. Instead, we're seeing significant rollbacks that weaken accountability for businesses. The proposed cuts don’t just dilute ambition—they actively reward those dragging their feet, putting responsible businesses at a disadvantage."
Reaction on taxomony and CSRD
Tsvetelina Kuzmanova, EU Sustainable Finance Lead, CISL
“The companies driving the transition will be the ones jumping bureaucratic hoops just to access green finance, while those ignoring sustainability face no consequences. This isn’t just unfair—it undermines the entire purpose of EU climate policy.
Cutting the reporting scope and making sustainability rules voluntary is not only a regulatory step back, but a disincentive for clean industries. Europe already struggles with too few green projects and too little green investment. Voluntary reporting only rewards laggards—those unwilling to change—while punishing frontrunners.”
