European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in a video message on 24 June 2026 to the Decarbon Days innovation festival in Cottbus, praised the Lusatia region's transformation from a lignite-based energy hub into a clean technology leader and announced a new 'Made in Europe' criterion for public procurement to boost demand for European clean-tech products.
Von der Leyen highlighted several projects emerging from the region's Net Zero Valley, including the GigawattFactory combining solar, wind and battery storage, high-temperature heat pumps for industry, and research into eco-friendly aircraft engines. She framed the transition as a matter of European independence and competitiveness, acknowledging that 'competition is fierce and sometimes unfair' and that efforts are needed to ensure sustainable innovation and jobs stay in Europe.
simplifying procedures and shortening permitting times for clean industries, stepping up investments via the EUR 1.5 billion Battery Booster Facility, and introducing a new 'Made in Europe' criterion for public contracts. 'Public money should benefit European production,' von der Leyen said, signalling a shift towards using public procurement as a tool to support domestic clean-tech manufacturing.
The policy orientation is towards strengthening EU industrial sovereignty in clean technologies, with a clear preference for European production over imports. The speech did not provide detailed implementation timelines or numerical targets for the procurement criterion, leaving those specifics for future Commission proposals.
Von der Leyen's message was primarily declaratory and supportive, with the only concrete new measure being the 'Made in Europe' procurement criterion. The speech did not address potential trade-offs, such as higher costs for taxpayers or tensions with WTO procurement rules, nor did it detail how the criterion would be defined or enforced.
EU clean-tech producers stand to benefit from guaranteed demand through public contracts, potentially boosting investment and job creation in regions like Lusatia. EU taxpayers and public authorities may face higher costs if 'Made in Europe' products are more expensive than imported alternatives, reducing purchasing power or requiring larger budgets. Non-EU clean-tech exporters could lose access to EU public procurement markets, potentially straining trade relations. EU consumers may see limited direct impact, as the measure targets public procurement rather than consumer markets, though indirect effects on innovation and prices could emerge over time.