European Commission Unveils Industrial Accelerator Act

On 4 March 2026, the European Commission (the “Commission”) adopted its long-awaited legislative proposal to strengthen the EU’s industrial base and stimulate demand for “Made in EU” products with the publication of the Industrial Accelerator Act (the “IAA”). This is the first legislative initiative under the Commission’s Clean Industrial Deal announced in 2025 and builds on the recommendations in the Draghi Report to strengthen European production capacities and boost demand for European-made clean technologies. It is also linked to the EU’s objective to increase the EU’s share of manufacturing in GDP to at least 20% by 2035.

Key elements of the proposal include:

• targeted and proportionate “Made in EU” and/or low-carbon requirements in public procurement and public support schemes for selected “strategic sectors” (notably steel, cement, aluminium, cars, and net-zero technologies);