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Slovenian economy welcomes European agreement for clean industry

by AI | 28.Feb 2025 | Europe in brief AI

The Slovenian economy welcomes the European agreement for clean industry presented by the European Commission. Meanwhile, non-governmental organizations are critical of the simplification of certain environmental rules.

Director General of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS) Vesna Nahtigal. Photo: Bor Slana/STA

Ljubljana – The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (CCIS) welcomes the proposal of the European agreement for a clean industry, in which the European Commission highlights the importance of industry and measures for its competitiveness. At the same time, CCIS calls on the government to provide competitive conditions for the industry. Meanwhile, several non-governmental organizations have been critical of the proposals to simplify certain EU environmental rules for companies.

“I am pleased that the EU recognizes the importance of industry and the necessity to strengthen its competitiveness. Europe has begun to realize that without industry, especially the materials industry, which is otherwise more energy-intensive, we simply cannot manage. This is particularly important now when significant geopolitical changes are happening in the world, and Europe will have to rely more on itself than ever before,” said CCIS Director General Vesna Nahtigal.

Nahtigal highlighted that the European Commission presented directions in its plans, which CCIS has been warning Slovenian governments about for several years.

“At CCIS, we see the possibility that the government ensures comparable energy price limits for Slovenian companies with other countries, reduces the tax burden, and exempts payment of contributions for renewable energy sources, cogeneration of heat and energy, and efficient energy use,” she said.

Manufacturing activities in Slovenia account for 22,000 business entities employing around 252,000 people. In 2023, they created 22 percent of GDP (12.5 billion euros). With this, Slovenia ranks third among EU countries in terms of the importance of manufacturing activities in GDP, as stated by CCIS.

Meanwhile, several non-governmental organizations have been critical of the European Commission’s proposal to simplify certain environmental rules for companies. As they stated in a joint message, it is not about simplification, but an obvious deregulation in the interest of multinationals. They call on Slovenian representatives in the European Parliament and the EU Council to reject the changes. (February 26 and 27)