ECR Co-Chairman Nicola Procaccini calls for a decisive shift towards economic freedom, technological neutrality and strategic investment, ensuring that Europe once again creates the conditions for innovation, growth and prosperity.

Speaking in the European Parliament during the key debate on competitiveness, in the presence of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Mr Procaccini outlined the priorities for action:

“The time has come to move from analysis to action — to turn diagnosis into a rapid and effective cure.

“We must remove the tariffs we have imposed upon ourselves. I refer to the excesses of the Green Deal, which weigh heavily on competitiveness, innovation and the cost of living. Inflation is strongly influenced by the cost of energy, on which we have also placed the crushing burden of CO₂ emission credits, even though Europe’s emissions are now marginal compared to the rest of the world.

“We must reaffirm the principle of technological neutrality. Decarbonisation should be the result of innovation, not of politically imposed deadlines that risk creating new dependencies.

“Europe will regain competitiveness only by rediscovering its economic freedom. It is time to change pace, guided by the common sense our political family has always defended.”

Procaccini stressed that Europe must remove the burdens it has imposed on itself, particularly those weighing on competitiveness, innovation and the cost of living. He underlined the central role of energy costs and warned that excessive regulatory pressure continues to weaken Europe’s economic dynamism. He also called for stronger investment in energy independence and in securing access to critical raw materials in the context of the next European budget.

Procaccini made clear that Europe’s current situation is the result of policy choices that must now be corrected:

“Today’s debate confronts us with a truth that we, as Conservatives, have been pointing out for years: Europe is no longer the place where the economy moves forward with strength and dynamism, and where, thanks to economic progress, civil and social rights, scientific discovery, quality of life and environmental protection advance alongside it. Regrettably, we have lost confidence in the future, regulating innovation ever more tightly until we risk suffocating it.

“The Draghi report has confirmed what we already knew: we have become intoxicated by ideology and have lost ground in relation to reality and to the rest of the world.”

Europe must now translate this recognition into concrete policy action to restore competitiveness, innovation and long-term growth.

“Europe will regain competitiveness only by rediscovering its economic freedom. It is time to change pace, guided by the common sense our political family has always defended,” he concluded.

Mr Procaccini’s speech reads in full:

Thank you, President, President von der Leyen,

Today’s debate confronts us with a truth that we, as Conservatives, have been pointing out for years: Europe is no longer the place where the economy moves forward with strength and dynamism, and where, thanks to economic progress, civil and social rights, scientific discovery, quality of life and environmental protection advance alongside it.

Regrettably, we have lost confidence in the future, regulating innovation ever more tightly until we risk suffocating it.

As a friend of mine once said: “Today, a scientist like Guglielmo Marconi would probably be chased by Europol for breaching postal rules, tax law, copyright regulations and even navigation codes.”

The Draghi report has confirmed what we already knew: we have become intoxicated by ideology and have lost ground in relation to reality and to the rest of the world.

But commenting on yet another study serves little purpose. The time has come to move from analysis to action — to turn diagnosis into a rapid and effective cure.

First, we must remove the tariffs we have imposed upon ourselves. I refer to the excesses of the Green Deal, which weigh heavily on competitiveness, innovation and the cost of living. Inflation is strongly influenced by the cost of energy, on which we have also placed the crushing burden of CO₂ emission credits, even though Europe’s emissions are now marginal compared to the rest of the world.

We must reaffirm the principle of technological neutrality. Decarbonisation should be the result of innovation, not of politically imposed deadlines that risk creating new dependencies.

In view of the next European budget, we must invest in energy independence and in securing the supply of critical raw materials.

Let me conclude: Europe will regain competitiveness only by rediscovering its economic freedom. It is time to change pace, guided by the common sense our political family has always defended.