On February 1, 2023 the EU Commission presented its Communciation A Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age (COM2023-62) that includes a firm nudge to Member States to shift their national zero emissions industry hero’s into high gear . The accompanying Guidance on Recovery and Resilience Plans  provides some flexibility to adjust the plans to the current context, and to prepare REPowerEU chapters.  The Commission strongly encourages Member States to include in their modified RRPs simple and effective measures to provide immediate support to companies and boost their competitiveness, through
1. one-stop-shops for the permitting of renewables and net-zero projects to accelerate, digitalize and streamline the processes for obtaining the necessary approvals and permits for building and operating net-zero-tech projects; coupled with dedicated strengthening of administrative capacity to eliminate administrative bottlenecks in
permitting;
2. tax breaks or other forms of support for green net-zero technologies investments undertaken by businesses, taking the form of either a tax credit, an accelerated depreciation or a subsidy linked to the acquisition or improvement of green investment assets;
3. and investing in equipping the workforce with skills necessary for this industrial
transition.

The Green Deal Industrial Plan also makes direct reference to ” infrastructure as key to the conducive net-zero business environment that the Green Deal Industrial Plan seeks to establish. Full coverage of the TEN-T networks with charging and refueling infrastructure and development and strengthening of a European hydrogen backbone
and the extension and strengthening of smart electricity grids to accommodate large quantities of renewables on the TEN-E network require large investment but also a strengthening of our regulatory framework : adopting the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) is crucial to help create a future-proof charging and refueling
network.

In addition the EC is also preparing to speed up the implementation of smaller, IPCEIrelated, innovative projects, in particular by small and medium-sized enterprises, through higher notification thresholds and greater aid intensities under the General Block Exemption Regulation.

Map: H2 Backbone 2030 Courtesy Gas for Climate.