Members of the EU Parliament in Strasbourg spoke out on Tuesday in favor of a new funding platform through which EU funds worth €13 billion will flow into so-called strategic technologies. The additional investments are aimed at making the EU more independent from third countries in strategically important economic areas.
This is crucial to strengthen Europe geopolitically, explained the conservative rapporteur in the European Parliament, José Manuel Fernandes. The funds are intended to support the development and production of green and digital technologies in Europe and to combat the shortage of skilled workers.
“The Commission is trying to square the circle”, explained the president of the European Parliament’s Industry Committee, Christian Ehler (CDU). The Commission had originally planned a larger fund for strategically important technologies. MEPs called on the Commission to present a proposal for such a fund by the end of 2025.