On March 4, 2026, the European Commission unveiled its proposal for the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), presented as a lever to accelerate decarbonization and strengthen industrial capacities in strategic sectors. An ambitious goal, in line with the aim of increasing the share of manufacturing industry to 20% of the European GDP by 2035. However, mechanical industry players find it insufficient.
The first major limitation is the scope of the proposal. By exclusively targeting certain so-called “strategic” technologies, especially those related to low-carbon transition, the text overlooks a comprehensive approach to value chains. This vision is considered too restrictive compared to the strategies deployed by major industrial powers, which support innovation, historical industries, and complete ecosystems from upstream to downstream.
Another point of contention is the concept of “equivalent content to that of Union origin.” By extending this to countries linked to the EU through trade agreements, the Commission greatly dilutes its scope. For industrialists, an effective local content policy requires strictly valuing productions made on European soil.
Faced with these limitations, the Mechanical Industries Federation (FIM) calls for a change of direction. They advocate for expanding the scope of the IAA to all value chains, as well as focusing “EU content” on productions actually manufactured within the Union.
Overall, FIM emphasizes the need for a genuine systemic industrial strategy. This would involve strengthening market surveillance to prevent the entry of non-compliant products, consolidating trade defense instruments against dumping practices, and implementing policies to support the competitiveness of all industrial sectors, not just the designated strategic sectors.
In the context of increased international competition, the IAA appears as a first, yet inadequate, step towards European industrial reconquest.
