MEP Dan Nica has been appointed rapporteur of the European Parliament for the European Competitiveness Fund, "the EU's most ambitious financial instrument, designed to strengthen Europe's economic, industrial, digital and technological competitiveness," the MEP's press office informed on Wednesday.
"This fund is the key to a strong, autonomous Europe, capable of protecting its economy, industry and jobs. It will bring together 14 existing European programmes into a single strategic architecture - from research and innovation to defence and digitalisation - supporting investments across the entire value chain: research, industrialisation, infrastructure and skills," Dan Nica said, as quoted in the release.
According to the MEP from Galati, the European Competitiveness Fund opens major opportunities for Romania: funding to modernise energy-intensive industries; complementary investments in energy infrastructure and grid interconnections, essential for lowering prices and boosting energy security; flexible financial instruments for SMEs, start-ups and emerging industries, which can support the reindustrialisation of Romania and Europe; expanded participation in joint European defence and security projects to strengthen national industrial and technological capacities; substantial support for innovation and applied research.
The European Competitiveness Fund, with a total value of 234.3 billion euros, will be structured, according to Dan Nica, around four main financing pillars: clean transition and industrial decarbonisation - 26.2 billion euros; health, biotechnology, agriculture and bioeconomy - 20.4 billion euros; digital and artificial intelligence - 51.5 billion euros; resilience, security, defence and space - 125.2 billion euros.
"The fund will support the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal, integrate the Industrial Decarbonisation Bank and finance strategic projects in infrastructure, innovation and skills, contributing to a safer, more competitive and more autonomous Europe. In the negotiations I will have with the Council of the European Union, the final form of the regulation will be established. The outcome will be put to a vote in the European Parliament plenary, marking a decisive step for the Union's economic and strategic future. The European Competitiveness Fund is not just a budgetary exercise - it is a political choice for a Europe capable of protecting its economy, industry and jobs," the MEP underscored.
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