Wednesday, March 4th marks a historic date for European industry, which is found in heavy difficulties: it was presented new Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), the first real measure – currently a bill – which establishes requirements of European preference for the public procurement in strategic sectors such as steel and technologies low environmental impact. Since this protected perimeter includes only a few strategic sectors and excludes others, and considering the very active lobby of importers from Northern European countries and Chinese online platforms, it is useful to summarize the main aspects of the law, which will be approved regardless. It leaves out, however, the gigantic sector of all manufactured goods and supply chains for the property, the furniture, machinery, appliances and related services. The second largest industry after the automotive industry, the household appliances industry, strategic for the well-being and quality of life of European citizens, requires concrete measures. This includes requiring clients to be public bodies. This is for now, but the scope will need to be expanded for important reasons.
Applia Europe: How to Maximize the Industrial Accelerator Act
"The Industrial Accelerator Act represents a fundamental step towards strengthening Europe's industrial base and developing key markets for low-carbon materials. However," he told FIRSTonline, Paolo Glaives"Europe's competitiveness also depends on its downstream manufacturing sectors, which transform these materials into globally competitive products. The household appliances industry, one of Europe's key advanced manufacturing ecosystems, supports key supply chains such as steel, electronics, plastics, and digital technologies, while also offering energy efficiency solutions for households. To maximize the success of this tool, the regulatory framework must recognize strategic sectors such as household appliances and ensure concrete demand-side measures, facilitated investment, and areas of industrial acceleration for the entire European manufacturing ecosystem."
Standing by the 2022 declaration of principle, the IAA has now received the approval of the 27 member states, with one fundamental variation: the Made in Europe of industry must rise to 20% of the EU's gross domestic product by 2035 (compared to the current 14%), a level comparable to that of the early 90s.
Who asked for it and for what reasons?
Pressure was exerted by all business associations and by European trade union representatives, after the heavy losses in turnover, production, sales, and employment in recent years. The decisive summit, but only the last, was held in Antwerp, Belgium on February 11, 2026. However, the first moves date back two years.
The disappearance and the growing crisis of the industrial structure of the Union are, in broad terms, caused by two factors: socio-economic dumping of extra-European supply chains and onerous loads of Costs of production for Made in Europe. These additional costs arise from the commitments made to an often unsustainable eco-sustainability, from bureaucracies contrasting European costs energy e materials Prime More than 30% more. This is because America's aggression against Iran will make production factors even more expensive.
The European Commission was forced to accelerate the IAA due to customs measures Trump, due to the war in the Middle East and new global price tensions. The "lively" discussions between the 27 member states in favor and those against defending Made in Europe products have only recently died down, and this is due to the gravity of the economic and social situation in the European area.
Who is against or excluded
Before Brexit, she was furiously against it England. Today I am the Germany and all the Northern European states for explicit convictions: "we defend the right of consumers," they declare, "to have ever more products at ever lower prices." Germany because it has gigantic agreements and contracts with China, and the Northern countries because, having no factories to protect, they must protect something else: in fact, they manage relationships with Chinese operators and platforms in different ways.
To pass the new version of the IAA, the opposing countries unfortunately managed to exclude—as highlighted in the introduction—certain sectors. This includes the entire gigantic home and household appliances sector, which is considered second-rate and non-strategic. It's worth noting that, for example, steel companies are not required to use European steel, since the law requires only low-carbon steel.
What's the catch?
The catch was introduced by Germany together with the Nordic countries. The European Commission agreed that companies producing in partner countries would not be excluded from the program, provided they comply. rigorous conditionsThere are over 40, including England, the USA, Canada, and Japan.
Furthermore, a clause imposes performance obligations in Europe – factories, employment, Research and Development – that is investments Significant. Korean companies like Samsung and Chinese companies like Hisense have already met these criteria, and therefore their products are considered Made in EU, provided that manufacturing actually takes place in Europe and is not limited to the assembly of semi-finished products from outside Europe.
