Policies and regulatory measures aimed at ensuring the economic viability and global competitiveness of industrial sectors, particularly energy-intensive industries, during the transition to net-zero and in response to energy price volatility.
Foresight tracks Industrial Competitiveness developments and surfaces the alerts most likely to matter before they turn into missed deadlines, recalls, or escalation work.
Not ready for a trial? Take the 3-minute readiness assessment
Current activity
In line with the prior 8-week baseline
3-month trend
Latest alerts below
Last updated
25 May 2026, 18:21
Source-backed regulatory and guidance signals tracked by Foresight, with the newest developments first.
European Committee of the Regions Opinion on the European Chemicals Industry Action Plan
The Official Journal has published a non-binding opinion from the European Committee of the Regions on the European Chemicals Industry Action Plan, setting out recommendations on energy, funding, permitting, PFAS substitution and remediation, circularity and the Critical Chemicals Alliance to support a competitive, decarbonised EU chemicals sector. While it does not itself create obligations, the opinion signals political pressure on the Commission and Member States to adjust ETS and CBAM design, simplify and harmonise chemicals regulation, and prioritise investment and regional support measures that will shape future compliance expectations for chemical producers and downstream industries.
European UnionEuropean Parliament Approves New Regulation to Address Global Steel Overcapacity
In May 2026, the European Parliament approved a new steel safeguard regulation that sharply reduces tariff-free import quotas and doubles above-quota duties from July 2026 to counter global overcapacity. Once confirmed by the Council, this measure will significantly tighten market access for third-country steel and could reshape sourcing, pricing and investment decisions across EU steel value chains.
European UnionEU Parliament ENVI Amendments To CBAM Regulation On Downstream Goods And Anti‑Circumvention (PE788.846v01-00)
In May 2026 the European Parliament’s environment committee tabled extensive amendments to the CBAM amendment proposal, aiming to extend the mechanism to downstream goods and tighten anti-circumvention rules, including for chemicals, plastics and other carbon-intensive value chains. If carried through trilogue negotiations, this would materially broaden CBAM coverage and raise data and verification demands for importers and EU manufacturers, shifting decarbonisation and trade-exposure risks further into chemical and industrial supply chains.
European UnionSpain Adopts Order ITU/498/2026 Amending SEPIDES PRTR Aid Schemes
Spain has adopted Order ITU/498/2026 amending the bases of five SEPIDES-managed industrial decarbonisation and electric‑vehicle battery aid schemes under the PRTR, capping SEPIDES’ recoverable indirect costs and tightening classification and reporting duties from May 2026. This change modestly reduces the share of each PRTR investment that can fund project‑external overheads while increasing scrutiny of project categorisation and execution, so beneficiaries and applicants should review updated bases, cost structures and documentation requirements before future calls.
SpainEU EESC Adopts Opinion on Horizon Europe 2028–2034 Framework Proposals
The European Economic and Social Committee has adopted its opinion on the European Commission’s Horizon Europe 2028–2034 framework proposals, backing a €175 billion research and innovation budget while pushing for stronger focus on EU competitiveness, clean technologies, water resilience, and inclusive participation. This opinion will inform Council and Parliament negotiations on the final programme design, signalling likely priorities around impact-driven funding, closer links to the European Competitiveness Fund, safeguards on dual-use research and intellectual property, and better access for SMEs, universities, and vulnerable groups.
European UnionEU Council Presidency Flash Note Sets April–May 2026 Timeline for Industrial Accelerator Act Discussions
The EU Council presidency has set out an indicative April–May 2026 timetable for working party and Competitiveness Council discussions on the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act. This clarifies the political window in which key provisions on industrial decarbonisation and investment conditions are likely to be negotiated, helping affected sectors to anticipate when the regulation’s details may be fixed.
European UnionUS NIST MEP Issues Notice of Intent for Advanced Manufacturing and Critical Minerals Pilot Program
NIST’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership has issued a Federal Register notice of intent for a competitive pilot program to fund advanced manufacturing technology frameworks in aerospace additive manufacturing and domestic critical minerals supply chains in 2026. The notice creates no immediate compliance obligations but signals substantial upcoming funding and coordination opportunities that could reshape US supply chains, technology expectations, and competitiveness for manufacturers in these strategic sectors.
United StatesEuropean Parliament Debates EU ETS Review and Industrial Competitiveness
On 20 May 2026 the European Parliament held a high-profile debate with Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra on whether and how to revise the EU Emissions Trading System to balance climate goals, industrial competitiveness, and energy independence. The discussion signals that ETS reform is likely but that the Commission intends to preserve a strong carbon price while redirecting auction revenues and adjusting design features such as free allocation, CBAM and the Market Stability Reserve to protect frontrunner investments and ease pressure on exposed sectors.
European UnionEuropean Commission Publishes Factual Summary of Consultation on European Grids Package
The European Commission has released a factual summary of 197 stakeholder responses to its 2025 public consultation on the European Grids Package, covering views on TEN‑E performance, grid planning, permitting, investment, supply chains, digitalisation and simplification across the EU. The findings will feed into the synopsis report and impact assessment for forthcoming European grid legislation, signalling likely EU moves to streamline and digitalise permitting, better align EU and national grid planning, and tackle supply‑chain and skills bottlenecks without yet creating new binding obligations.
European UnionUS House Introduces BIO-SCALE Act To Establish Bioindustrial Technology Maturation Facilities (H.R. 8918)
The US House has introduced the BIO-SCALE Act (H.R. 8918) to create regional, open-access technology maturation facilities serving the bioindustrial sector, including producers of bio-based chemicals, fuels, and materials. If enacted, this would channel significant federal funding into shared pilot-scale infrastructure for bioindustrial manufacturing, signalling long-term policy support for bio-based production capacity rather than new regulatory obligations.
United StatesUK Government Launches Critical Chemicals Resilience Fund and Ceramics Decarbonisation Package
In May 2026 the UK Government announced a £350 million Critical Chemicals Resilience Fund and a £120 million ceramics support package to bolster domestic production, energy efficiency and decarbonisation. These targeted programmes do not create new regulatory obligations but signal sustained policy support for UK-based chemicals and ceramics manufacturers, including potential future changes to trade defence and regulatory cost regimes.
United KingdomUK Government Announces Funding Packages for Chemicals and Ceramics Industries
In May 2026 the UK Government announced a £350 million Critical Chemicals Resilience Fund and a separate £120 million support scheme for ceramics manufacturers to strengthen critical supply chains, modernise energy‑intensive sites, and back long-term industrial resilience. These packages signal a more interventionist industrial policy for critical chemicals and ceramics, with co-designed decarbonisation and energy-cost support likely to influence where manufacturers invest, consolidate capacity, and seek future trade and regulatory relief in the UK.
United KingdomEuropean Commission Answers EP Question On Silicon Metal And Critical Raw Materials Act
In May 2026 the European Commission answered an EP question on silicon metal, clarifying that existing 2025 safeguard measures do not cover silicon while acknowledging tightening supply and highlighting Critical Raw Materials Act mechanisms and risk assessments. The reply signals potential future use of EU trade-defence instruments and CRMA strategic-project status to support silicon metal production, so producers and downstream users should monitor this file even though no immediate measures or obligations are introduced.
European UnionNine EU Member States Issue Joint Non-Paper on Greening of Corporate Vehicle Fleets
Nine EU Member States have issued a joint non-paper to the Council on competitiveness and sustainable mobility in the greening of corporate vehicle fleets. This coordinated positioning could influence future EU measures on corporate fleets and road transport decarbonisation, affecting automotive strategy, fleet procurement decisions and supporting infrastructure planning.
European UnionCroatia Presents National Industry Development Plan 2027–2034 and Action Plan
Croatia’s Ministry of Economy has presented a National Industry Development Plan for 2027–2034, backed by an action plan and multi‑billion‑euro funding to drive competitive, clean and energy‑secure industrial growth. This signals a long-term policy and investment framework likely to shape future incentives, infrastructure and regulatory initiatives affecting energy‑intensive and manufacturing sectors operating in Croatia.
CroatiaEU Commission Publishes Repository of National Emergency Energy Measures for Consumers and Industry
DG Energy has launched an EU-wide repository summarising national emergency energy measures adopted since February 2026 to shield households and industry from price shocks linked to the Middle East conflict. The overview gives energy-intensive manufacturers and other large users a single view of tax breaks, subsidies and demand-side interventions across Member States, supporting strategic planning for energy costs, resilience and investment.
European UnionEU Parliament ITRE Committee Draft Amendments to Temporary Decarbonisation Fund Proposal
Members of the European Parliament’s ITRE committee have tabled extensive amendments to the Commission’s proposal for a Temporary Decarbonisation Fund, redefining how CBAM revenues would be used from 2028–2029 to support energy‑intensive, trade‑exposed industries facing higher carbon costs. If adopted, the choices on eligible sectors (including fertilisers and metals), export‑focused compensation, conditionality, and revenue‑sharing between the EU and Member States will shape how far the Fund mitigates carbon‑related cost pressures and underpins long‑term decarbonisation investment planning for EU industrial producers.
European UnionEuropean Commission President Signals New Single Market Acts in European Parliament Speech
The European Commission President used a 19 May 2026 speech to the European Parliament to outline a six-point Single Market agenda, flagging forthcoming initiatives such as a Chips Act 2.0, a Cloud and AI Development Act, an Industrial Accelerator Act and new labour and social policy packages. These signals show the Commission’s direction of travel on digital, clean industry and labour regulation, but with no draft texts or dates yet, regulatory and compliance teams should treat them as early indications ahead of more detailed legislative proposals.
European UnionNetherlands Issues 2025 Annual Report of the Ministry of Climate and Green Growth on Climate and Energy Policy
The Netherlands has published the 2025 annual report of the Ministry of Climate and Green Growth, confirming entry into force of the Energiewet, adoption of the Wet collectieve warmte, and multi‑billion euro allocations for grids, CCS, hydrogen and nuclear alongside broader climate and industrial policy measures. This consolidates the national climate and energy framework and signals sustained, large‑scale public support for decarbonisation infrastructure, while raising expectations on utilities and industry to deliver projects on time despite grid constraints, permitting challenges and execution risks.
NetherlandsEU Commission Outlines Clean Industrial Deal and ETS Investment Booster in Answer on 'Antwerp Declaration'
In May 2026 the European Commission used a written answer on the ‘Antwerp Declaration’ to set out its Clean Industrial Deal agenda, including ETS modernisation, an investment booster funded by 400 million ETS allowances, and an Industrial Accelerator Act to speed industrial permitting and lead markets. This signals a coordinated policy push to support low-carbon investment and industrial competitiveness in the EU, meaning energy-intensive manufacturers should prepare for evolving ETS rules, new funding instruments, and tighter conditions on strategic investment and market access.
European UnionThese are just a few of the most recent Industrial Competitiveness alerts. Foresight tracks every jurisdiction, every day — and surfaces only what affects your portfolio, with full citations and evidence.
Start free trialTopic context
Definition
Policies and regulatory measures aimed at ensuring the economic viability and global competitiveness of industrial sectors, particularly energy-intensive industries, during the transition to net-zero and in response to energy price volatility.
Industry relevance
Industrial Competitiveness developments can change product scope, supplier expectations, market access, reporting duties, and risk ownership. Foresight tracks the signals early so teams can respond before obligations become urgent.
Foresight tracking
Foresight monitors official sources, extracts structured regulatory intelligence, and maps alerts to a customer's products, substances, markets, and priorities so teams see the relevant signal with source evidence for review.
Everything you need to know about Foresight's regulatory intelligence platform
Still have questions? Get in touch with our team
Subscribe to Foresight Weekly for expert-picked regulatory developments across chemicals, sustainability, product safety, ESG, and HSE.
Free forever. Unsubscribe anytime.
Read by professionals at
