C 152/46
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
6.4.2022
between the EU, Member States, social partners, industry and other relevant stakeholders.
The recovery strategy will also strengthen the Just Transition Mechanism, which supports regions reliant on REIIs and undergoing structural change.
3.
General comments 3.1.
The EU Recovery Plan comprises a key aspect in the sustainable transition towards a decarbonised and digitalised economy and highlights the fact that the EU’s twin transition aspiration requires political responsibility, in addition to political commitment and/or golden rules.
The EESC agrees with the proposed main flagship areas, which will focus the investment on some of the most relevant areas for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) while ensuring the achievement of the climate targets established by EU legislation for 2030 (greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction of at least 55 % compared to 1990) and 2050 (net-zero GHG emissions).
3.2.
The pandemic has created the need to forge a common pathway where the rules are globally defined and homogeneously applied by all regions, thus addressing the potential fragmentation risk derived from the miscellaneous allocation of resources.
The crisis arising from the pandemic and the need for a transition to a sustainable, resilient and flexible economy could provide a great opportunity to define the rules guaranteeing a level playing field in the EU.
3.3.
To this end, the REIIs’ current precarious situation needs to be properly assessed, along with the impact that the ongoing nature of these conditions could have on the European economy as a whole.
The REIIs’ contribution to the European Union’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) should be borne in mind, along with the fact that they are leaders in innovation, are responsible for the creation of high-quality employment and contribute to long-term wellbeing for society as a whole.
A strong public service needs drive from the private sector.
However, the EESC is concerned about the lack of precision that some already approved NRRPs show with regard to REIIs, as investments are sometimes diverted to other economic sectors.
3.4.
In addition, the impetus that REIIs can provide in terms of R & D needs to be considered, as it constitutes a key area where innovation will be scaled up from laboratory to industrial scale.
3.5.
The REIIs are potentially one of the biggest contributors to the industrial transition that will ensure a low-carbon Europe.
Industry should intensify its efforts to develop and roll out low-carbon production processes and promote them along the complex supply chains.
Without this indoor and outdoor work, it will be hard to achieve the essential but ambitious goals defined in the Paris Agreement and the goals set by the EU.
3.6.
Automatisation and digitalisation will play a key role in the achievement of this industrial transition.
However, concepts should not be confused: transformation is the goal; digitalisation is the tool.
Implementing digital solutions will streamline the way people think, make decisions and perform: while digitalisation needs to be a priority for the RRF, the focus should be on how these tools will enable a more efficient approach to the challenges we are facing.
3.7.
Digital transformation will require the development of technologies proven at pilot or laboratory scale on an industrial scale.
For that, public and private partnerships should focus on research, development and innovation.
Investment should focus on technology which demonstrates early on the scalability, feasibility and reliability of the innovative solutions in the upper parts of the value chains, while being in line with sustainability goals.
Additionally, it will be necessary to plan a conversion period where innovative solutions can be properly scaled up to industrial scale.
3.8.
In order to be able to handle this situation effectively, the transition should be focused on the know-how acquired, the resources already available and the potential synergies that may arise.
Transformation involves innovation, invention, design, construction and, in fact, development; but this should not mean new creations per se.
3.9.
The EESC is aware of the investment this transition will require.
The RRF and NGEU should not be seen as the panacea.
The REIIs transformation to cope with the twin transition will require a massive investment plan, mobilising many additional sources of funding (e.g. state aid, important projects of common European interests, new own resources for the EU budget, future EU ETS revenues, private investments, etc.).
To this end, it is essential to reconcile industrial and energy policies with climate policy, in order to mobilise all of the huge investments made necessary by the transition to a zero-carbon economic model.