In a written answer to a parliamentary question on 15 July 2026, Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné clarified the geographical scope of the equivalence clause in the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), indicating that only a limited group of third countries — around 20 — would benefit from 'equivalent to Union origin' status, contrary to earlier interpretations that the clause could cover up to 90 countries. The answer addresses a question by MEP Jörgen Warborn (PPE), who had flagged a discrepancy between the text of Article 8 of the IAA and Séjourné's own remarks at a joint committee meeting on 2 June 2026. The Commission's proposal, tabled in early 2026, introduces EU origin quotas for public procurement in selected product categories as part of a 'European preference' approach. Article 8(1) deems content from countries with which the EU has a free trade agreement, customs union, or that are parties to the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) as equivalent to EU origin. However, Séjourné's answer stresses that application depends on the specific commitments under those agreements and on possible delegated acts under Article 8(2) that could exclude certain countries. The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to an open, rules-based trading system but insisted on reciprocity, warning that European industry should not be placed at a structural disadvantage where third countries restrict market access. The clarification has significant implications for EU producers, who may face less competition from a narrower set of equivalent countries, and for contracting authorities, who must navigate a more limited pool of eligible suppliers. Trading partners covered by the GPA or EU trade deals may see their access restricted if the Commission uses delegated acts to exclude them. The answer provides no concrete list of countries, leaving further specification to future delegated acts, which will be subject to scrutiny by the European Parliament and Council. The IAA is currently under negotiation in the Parliament's committees on trade, industry and the internal market.
Source✉ Open answer ↗
Asked byJörgen Warborn (PPE)