The European Solar Manufacturing Council (ESMC) and SolarPower Europe (SPE) have jointly urged EU leaders to leverage the Ministerial meeting on 30 September 2025 to present a concrete action plan for solar manufacturing in Europe.
In a joint letter to Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné and Director-General Kerstin Jorna, copied to Ministers of the Competitiveness Council, the associations stress the need for urgent political action to safeguard the future of Europe’s solar photovoltaic (PV) industry.
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“Europe’s solar industry is at a crossroads. Without immediate and coordinated action, Europe risks losing its remaining solar manufacturing base. We call on EU leaders to turn the ambition of the Net-Zero Industry Act into reality,” said Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe.
A strategic moment for European manufacturing
Despite ambitious political commitments under the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) and the 2024 EU Solar Charter, Europe’s solar deployment is faltering as industrial closures and bankruptcies increase across the value chain. The NZIA aims for at least 30 GW of EU-manufactured solar PV by 2030, but this target will be unattainable without immediate political and financial intervention.
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“The EU must act now to preserve its solar sovereignty. The ESIA’s 30 GW ambition is not materialising, and time is running out. Manufacturers cannot wait until the next financial framework to see action,” stressed Christoph Podewils, Secretary General of ESMC.
Industry recommendations to EU leaders
The letter outlines five critical measures for EU leaders to commit to during the Ministerial meeting and ESIA Forum:
1. A European PV Industry 2030 Action Plan – a political roadmap to rebuild and expand solar manufacturing across the entire value chain.
2. Revision of EU public procurement legislation – to prioritise resilience, cybersecurity, and EU content, ensuring “Made in Europe” solar is integrated into public procurement.
3. A new Cleantech Manufacturing Fund – under the next Multiannual Financial Framework, featuring dedicated support for solar, covering both CAPEX and OPEX.
4. Expansion of temporary OPEX support – extending the Clean Industrial State Aid Framework Chapter 6 to all solar value chain segments to prevent factory closures and retain skilled workers.
5. Increased role for the European Investment Bank (EIB) – including low- or zero-interest loans, counter-guarantees, and “Made in Europe” criteria for eligible projects.
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A clear call to action
The solar associations emphasise that implementing the NZIA alone is insufficient. Without bold and immediate action, Europe risks losing its ability to produce solar PV technologies domestically, jeopardising both its climate neutrality targets and strategic sovereignty.
“This is a make-or-break moment. The EU must show it is ready to preserve and rebuild Europe’s solar industry before it is too late,” the letter concludes. (hcn)
