Horizon 2020 is ‘green car initiative’
The European Commission has cited the importance in green automotive technology at the European Automotive Congress.
Speaking at conference in Bilbao, Spain, Barbara Bonvissuto, the deputy head of unit DG Enterprise, industry mobility and automotive industry, said she hoped more funding could be made available for green car technology, particularly in CARS 2020, the European Commission’s action plan for a competitive and sustainable auto industry. However, the industry has significant difficulties during the recent economic crisis with several plant closures.
“CARS 2020 looks at all policy areas that can have an effect on automotive industry…we need to provide access to finance. May this year was the lowest May for 20 years (in terms of output). We had announcement[s] of plant closures last year and this year. Suppliers are doing better – there was some restructuring in 2008/2009 and with the flexibility they are coping a bit better with the current crisis than Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
“With the closure of Ford Genk, the number of jobs lost to the supply chain is 2.7 times higher than the number lost just with the OEMs.”
Transport is set to receive significant funding under Horizon 2020 in a move that’s hoped to being more efficient vehicles and related automotive technology to the market.
“Horizon 2020 will be a green initiative and from the Commission side, we want to double the money for that. Since 2008, €8bn has been granted to the automotive sector by the European Investment Bank and the automotive sector is the largest industry in the lending portfolio of the bank.”
A budget agreement for Horizon 2020 was agreed at the end of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
