General – Politics
France has become the first country in Europe to actively embrace the ‘Made in Europe’ principle, moving ahead of anticipated European Union legislation that is expected to formalize such requirements in the coming years.
Rather than waiting for what many see as slow-moving EU decision-making, the French government has introduced clear criteria favouring European-made components in public tenders for sustainable energy projects.
Just two weeks ago, France launched an ambitious package of renewable energy tenders totaling 12 gigawatts. This includes 10 GW of offshore wind capacity, 1.2 GW of solar energy, and 0.8 GW of onshore wind projects.
A striking feature of the new policy is the introduction of so-called ‘resilience criteria’. These rules give preference to bidders that rely on European supply chains. In offshore wind projects, for example, no more than four out of nine key strategic components may originate from China. Additionally, permanent magnets used in wind turbines are capped at a maximum of 50% Chinese content.
The move raises a pressing question across the continent: which country will follow France’s lead? The Netherlands, home to one of Europe’s largest offshore wind pipelines, now faces a strategic choice. Policymakers must decide whether to support the rebuilding of a European supply chain and reduce dependence on foreign, particularly Chinese, components.
