The ‘Mother of All Industries’: The EU Chemical Industry, the Green Deal, and Regulatory Rollbacks

On May 11, 2025, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen hosted the first Strategic Dialogue on the future of the chemical industry in Europe with representatives from the sector. The purpose of the dialogue was to identify priority measures to support competitiveness for the European Union (EU) chemical industry while ensuring sustainability, security, and safety.

In her remarks, President von der Leyen recognized the key role the chemical industry plays in all aspects of Europeans’ lives, starting with the products they use every day. Further, more than one million people in the EU are employed in the chemical industry, which in turn supports other key industry sectors such as defense, healthcare, and energy.

Recalling the Commission’s commitment to boosting the competitiveness of European industry, including by supporting innovation, President von der Leyen underscored the role of the Clean Industrial Deal — Europe’s roadmap for decarbonization and competitiveness — as well as its focus on four key pillars: mitigating high energy costs, improving access to capital, addressing the skills gap, and simplification, as well as the need to diversify supply chains.

Industry representatives at the meeting requested the fast implementation of the Competitiveness Compass, the Clean Industrial Deal, and the Affordable Energy Action Plan. Attendees also discussed high energy costs, unfair trade practices, the impact of U.S. tariffs, the complexity of the EU’s regulatory framework, and support for the sector as it transitions to a more digital and green future.