France, Germany, and Sweden have urged the incoming European Commission to prioritise the future of European battery production and reduce reliance on China for the green transition.
In a joint paper released ahead of an EU ministers' meeting on competitiveness, the three member states emphasised that European battery companies face significant challenges in scaling up within a global market that is not level. They called for reduced bureaucracy, faster approval processes, enhanced funding routes, improved market access and increased EU funding for the sector.
"If we are to succeed with the green transition we need to get the European battery sector flying and taking a proper share of the market," Swedish Industry Minister Ebba Busch told reporters before the meeting in Brussels.
The urgency is particularly pronounced for Sweden, following Northvolt's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in the United States last week. While the Swedish government has ruled out investing in Northvolt, which has been a flagship hope for Europe's electric vehicle battery ambitions, Busch noted that a clear commitment from Brussels could boost Northvolt's chances of securing external funding.
China dominates
China currently dominates electric vehicle battery production, accounting for 85% of global output, according to the International Energy Agency. Busch warned against replicating Europe's past dependency on Russian gas by becoming reliant on China.
"The green transition might end up becoming a Chinese transition in Europe... Just look at solar cell or wind power sector, a lot of that has been taken over by third-country investment," Busch said.
The new European Commission, set to take office on December 1, plans to outline its strategy for economic competitiveness and climate goals within its first 100 days. Busch, alongside her German and French counterparts, stressed the need for better regulation to foster new projects and help companies scale up.
German state secretary Berhard Kluttig highlighted the importance of diversifying raw material sources for battery production.
"There are many options, Australia, Canada and even Europe, we have lithium projects, so it is also important that we focus on these alternative sources for battery materials," he said.