France and Germany agree closer cooperation on strategic energy transition technologies

France and Germany plan to intensify cooperation on strategically important energy transition technologies, including battery cell production and green hydrogen. Following their meeting, German economy minister Robert Habeck and his French counterpart Bruno Le Maire in a joint statement also called for a renewed impetus in European industrial policy. “We call for an EU industrial policy that enables our companies to thrive in the global competition, especially through technological leadership,” the statement said. They agreed on the importance of a joint investment drive in cross-border infrastructure, called for a strong European response to the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, and confirmed their intention to cooperate closely on raw materials to strengthen the EU’s strategic independence.
The ministers also agreed a new “European platform for transformation technologies” to expand industrial production capacities for wind power, solar PV, electrolysers, electricity grids, cables and heat pumps. "We need more industrial production capacities here in the EU to be able to meet the increasing demand from domestic production, including the supply of raw materials and components," Habeck said.

Following reports about quarrels and disagreements between the two largest EU member states, politicians and business representatives from France and Germany earlier this month stressed the need for a sound and extensive cooperation to maintain progress on climate action, the energy transition, and safeguarding European unity. Members of parliament of both countries assured that Franco-German cooperation is intact amid the energy crisis and the ongoing war by Russia in Ukraine.