Ahead of the Industrial Accelerator Act, a broad coalition calls for strong lead markets for low-carbon products

Ahead of the European Commission’s proposal for an Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) on 25 February, 40 organisations from across European industrial and manufacturing sectors, research, think tanks and civil society have issued a joint statement urging the Commission to strengthen lead market measures for low-carbon industrial products.

Co-ordinated by the Zero Emissions Platform (ZEP) and E3G, the statement builds on an open letter released in October 2025, expressing concern about the lack of ambitious demand-side measures for low-carbon products in the Commission’s internal draft. The signatories warn that this could dilute the IAA’s very purpose: accelerate industrial decarbonisation.

“Today, low-carbon products compete with cheaper, high-carbon alternatives, leaving clean production at a disadvantage. By establishing ambitious lead markets for low-carbon products, the Industrial Accelerator Act can close this cost gap, unlock investment, and safeguard Europe’s competitiveness on the path to climate neutrality.”

Cristiana Foglia, Policy Officer, ZEP

“A comprehensive lead market framework is the missing piece of Europe’s clean industrial strategy. The Industrial Accelerator Act must send a clear signal that demand-side measures will back clean industrial innovation, de-risk investment, and turn climate ambition into industrial leadership.”

Elina Pihlajamäki, Policy Advisor, E3G

The signatories recall that creating lead markets for clean industrial products is a core priority of the Clean Industrial Deal, a position reaffirmed in the Commission’s 2026 Work Programme, which identifies private demand as a key driver of industrial competitiveness and innovation. Member States, including France, Germany and Italy, have also called for stronger EU action in this area.

To ensure low-carbon products can scale to the level required to meet the EU’s climate objectives, the statement calls on the Commission to:

• Broaden lead market measures to a wider range of sectors;
• Establish EU-wide, harmonised and performance-based product standards;
• Introduce mandatory green public procurement with complementary low-carbon and EU/EEA origin requirements;
• Create durable private demand through demand-side mandates and financial de-risking tools.

The signatories add that stimulating clean industrial manufacturing in Europe and market demand for low-carbon products are essential to reinforce Europe’s economic resilience, support quality jobs, and secure industrial leadership in the transition to a net-zero economy.