Poland among EU members seeking to boost chip production
A coalition of several EU member states, including Poland, have appealed to the European Commission (EC) to improve regulations on computer chip production to strengthen the EU's semiconductor sector.
The aims of the so-called Semicon Coalition, which Poland set up together with several other EU peers, are now supported by all 27 EU members.
On Monday, the coalition sent their declaration on the matter to the EC.
"Semiconductors are a key element in building the competitiveness of the European economy, as well as in building our security," Poland's Finance and Economy Minister Andrzej Domanski, who was at an EU ministerial meeting in Brussels on Monday, told reporters.
"We know that this is an absolutely strategic industry, and we know that Europe must definitely accelerate. That is why we welcome this agreement," he added.
Domanski assessed that although this is an important step, it is certainly not enough.
"We must significantly increase investment in this sector and work together to restore Europe's technological security," he stressed.
In their declaration, the signatories said semiconductors are of key significance not only for the European economy and security, but also for energy transition and the development of AI technologies.
They added that despite Europe's growing technological base, production is largely outsourced, while global competitors have been ramping up public spending on the sector's development.
According to the signatories, the EU needs an ambitious and forward-looking "European Chips Act 2.0" in order to respond to geopolitical, technological and environmental challenges.
Currently, the EU's share in the global chip market is about 10 percent and Brussels is looking to raise that share.
jd/ mf/ ao/