The European Commission has put forward a legislative proposal aimed at stimulating demand for low-carbon, European-made technologies and products. Through the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) under the proposal, Europe intends to reinforce industrial capacity across the bloc while hastening the shift towards lower-emission production models. The proposal underscores the importance of strengthening Europe’s industrial base, positioning the initiative as a mechanism to consolidate strategic sectors and accelerate decarbonisation.
However, the International Road Transport Union (IRU) has cautioned that the transport dimension within the Industrial Accelerator Act remains only partially developed. In its assessment, the current framework concentrates predominantly on manufacturing while paying comparatively limited attention to the interlinked logistics systems and transport infrastructure. IRU has also raised concerns about the potential impact of new restrictions on transport operators and their vehicles.
While welcoming the proposal’s acknowledgement of public procurement as a lever for decarbonisation, particularly through quality-based procurement and the use of sustainability criteria within the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), the organisation warned against layering additional industrial policy objectives onto procurement rules.
According to IRU EU Director Raluca Marian, procurement frameworks must “preserve sufficient flexibility for operators and contracting authorities to deploy the vehicle technologies best suited to different operational needs while ensuring the availability and affordability of vehicles.” The organization argues that requirements linked to resilience or “Made in Europe” provisions could complicate procedures, limit competition in vehicle markets and increase costs for both operators and public authorities. It further stressed that public procurement rules should remain straightforward and should not impose extra administrative burdens, such as proving the origin of vehicles or components.
Beyond procurement, IRU has expressed support for measures within the Industrial Accelerator Act that recognise strategic industrial and decarbonisation projects, including accelerated permitting and priority access to funding. Yet it contends that the supporting logistics infrastructure essential to these projects is not sufficiently addressed. Efficient supply chains depend on logistics hubs, transport terminals and multimodal links, as well as adequate road freight access, truck parking and charging infrastructure. The proposal also envisages the creation of an Industrial Decarbonisation Bank to mobilise up to EUR 100 billion, drawing on instruments such as the EU Innovation Fund financed through revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System. While IRU welcomed efforts to unlock investment in low-carbon technologies, it emphasised that substantial funding will also be required for charging and refuelling infrastructure, depot charging and grid connections to enable road transport operators to contribute fully to the EU’s industrial and climate objectives as the legislative process advances.
