Romanian MEP Ioan-Rareş Bogdan (PPE) has questioned the European Commission over whether its Clean Industrial Deal could inadvertently accelerate the relocation of energy-intensive industries to the United States, where lower energy prices and direct fiscal incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) are attracting European capital. The question, submitted on 13 June 2026, targets a perceived strategic asymmetry: while the US offers cheap energy and financial stimuli, the EU responds with additional regulation, bureaucracy, and strict climate targets that raise compliance costs for producers.
Bogdan's written question (E-002437/2026) follows a previous exchange in which the Commission acknowledged that industrial subsidies in third countries and high energy prices are pressuring European firms, but pointed to the Clean Industrial Deal and new quality job rules as solutions. The MEP now presses for specifics: he asks how the Commission will ensure that the Clean Industrial Deal does not speed up relocation, given that it adds administrative costs rather than providing direct cost reductions or compensation for the energy price gap. He also requests a quantitative impact study on how many companies in energy-intensive sectors might choose US subsidies over EU compliance schemes.
The question reflects growing concern among centre-right MEPs that the EU's regulatory approach is undermining its industrial competitiveness. The Commission is expected to reply within six weeks; its answer will signal whether it plans to adjust its policy mix to better compete with US incentives or maintain its current trajectory of green regulation and climate targets. The outcome could affect investment decisions in sectors such as chemicals, steel, and cement, where energy costs and regulatory burdens are key factors.