Brussels, 26 February 2025 – EuropeOn, the European association of electrical contractors, welcomes the Clean Industrial Deal’s commitment to electrification with a 32% electrification KPI by 2030 and to skills development. However, the plan overlooks workforce shortages, failing to ensure that Europe has enough qualified professionals to install and integrate clean technologies necessary for the electrification, decarbonisation and competitiveness of industries and companies in Europe.
Key takeaways:
- Including a clear 32% electrification KPI by 2030 (against 21.3% currently) is a strong move in the right direction. Along with the proposed actions on grids, taxation and affordability, this KPI provides companies with more confidence to invest in their assets and workforce.
- While the Clean Industrial Deal soundly recognises the need to address skills shortages by including a dedicated pillar, it fails to identify the root problem: workforce shortages. As explained in EuropeOn’s Manifesto, without enough workers, upskilling and reskilling efforts won’t be enough to implement the provisions included in the Clean Industrial Deal.
“Electricians are essential to deploy clean technologies, yet at least 16 European countries already face shortages of these key professionals. The same is true with nurses, for which the European Commission recently announced a specific action. We call for a similar initiative to support the electrical sector and secure the success of the Clean Industrial Deal” said Julie Beaufils, EuropeOn Secretary General.
