Cefic Calls for Urgent Action from Critical Chemicals Alliance to Safeguard EU Industry
The EU chemical industry faces unprecedented closures and falling investment. Cefic strongly supports the Critical Chemicals Alliance (CCA), urging it to deliver practical solutions by mid-2026. This vital move aims to implement the EU's Chemical Industry Action Plan, boost competitiveness, secure crucial supply chains, and address structural challenges. Cefic emphasizes the need for evidence-based approaches to criticality and resilience, and a holistic strategy to ensure Europe's industrial future. The Alliance's success hinges on concrete, urgent outcomes, not just identifying problems.
The European Union's chemical industry is experiencing an unprecedented rate of closures and declining investment, prompting Cefic to strongly back the Critical Chemicals Alliance (CCA) General Assembly. Cefic views this as a crucial step to implement the EU's Chemical Industry Action Plan, stressing the imperative for swift action to deliver tangible solutions rather than merely identifying problems. Since 2024, EU chemical sector policy has seen significant shifts, with initiatives like the Antwerp Declaration and the Clean Industrial Deal highlighting its strategic importance. The CCA's mandate is to translate this recognition into practical measures to secure Europe's industrial future by tackling risks such as plant closures and trade disruptions through strategic investment and enhanced monitoring. Marco Mensink, Director General of Cefic, underscored the urgency, calling for high-quality outcomes by the first half of 2026 that companies can experience directly, ensuring competitive production, resilient supply chains, and a robust industrial base. Cefic advocates for a robust, evidence-based methodology to assess criticality and resilience, emphasizing that resilience encompasses growth, innovation, and technological advancement, not just crisis-era supply security. The Alliance should adopt a holistic approach to competitiveness, focusing on structural measures rather than relying excessively on state aid, which could fragment the internal market. Cefic is committed to contributing constructively, seeking conditions for competition and investment in Europe, with the ultimate success of the CCA measured by its concrete guidance, actionable policy recommendations, and adaptive capacity.
