The European Solar Manufacturing Council (ESMC) stated that, on 30 September 2025, the EU-27 energy and industry ministers devoted an entire morning session to Europe’s solar PV manufacturing, highlighting the sector’s strategic importance for the continent’s competitiveness, resilience, and clean energy transition. ESMC noted that ministers, along with European Commission Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné, emphasized the urgent need to strengthen the solar PV value chain and preserve production capacity within Europe.

Christopher Podewils, Secretary General of ESMC, who attended the summit at the European Commission’s Berlaymont building in Brussels, was reported as saying that he was impressed by the strong commitment to solar PV manufacturing expressed by many ministers, particularly their support for a Made in Europe label in public tenders.

ESMC further stated that this political signal was followed by the ESIA Annual Meeting, which brought together policymakers, manufacturers, and financial experts to discuss strategies for translating ambition into action. The organization highlighted the intervention of Eike Klapper from the European Commission (Unit C1 – Access to Finance), who confirmed that the EU intends to provide operational support (OPEX), such as production support or tax credits, for clean-tech manufacturing through the new Competitiveness Fund, which will be linked to existing instruments including the Innovation Fund.

Podewils was quoted as welcoming the shift toward OPEX support but stressing that European manufacturers need immediate assistance. He reportedly added that while Europe possesses both political will and industrial expertise, the critical challenge now is to convert commitments into concrete, fast-track measures to support solar PV manufacturing across the continent.