European Union seeks to boost industry competitiveness and reduce China dependence

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for a reduction in energy costs and administrative burdens to bolster the competitiveness of European industry. Speaking in Paris, von der Leyen noted that energy prices in Europe are currently two to three times higher than in the United States and China. To support the economic model, she announced a goal to reduce administrative burdens on companies by 25% by 2029, a move expected to save approximately €17 billion annually through simplification packages.

EU Climate Action Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra warned that the bloc must address its strategic dependence on China for clean-energy technologies. Hoekstra emphasized that while reducing this reliance may incur higher short-term costs, delaying action will make the transition more expensive and disruptive. He noted that China currently dominates key sectors, accounting for nearly 88% of lithium-ion battery imports and over 80% of the residential battery energy storage market in the EU.

The discussions highlight growing concerns over the EU's trade deficit with China, which reached €1 billion per day in 2025, and the need to avoid replacing energy dependence on Russia with a technological dependence on China.