Italian PM Meloni Warns EU Green Policies Risk Industrial Desertification

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned that rigid green policies, especially the EU's strong push towards electrification in the automotive sector, risk devastating Europe's industrial base. She emphasized the need for a balanced ecological transition that protects economic and social stability, advocating for the inclusion of alternative fuels like biofuels and hydrogen in the EU's green strategy. Meloni criticized the EU’s inflexible regulatory approach, which she said has crushed sectors such as the automobile industry, and expressed concern about Europe’s dependence on electric vehicle supply chains controlled by non-European countries, calling it a strategic vulnerability. She urged the European Commission to revise key aspects of the Green Deal, including emissions calculations that consider the entire production cycle of vehicles rather than only tailpipe emissions. Recent decisions by the European Parliament have softened emissions targets for automakers, allowing them more flexibility until 2027, following lobbying efforts. Meloni also highlighted the importance of Italy and Germany leading efforts to restore competitiveness in Europe's manufacturing sector.