The Industrial Accelerator Act: a stepping stone or paradigm shift? A reading of the European Commission’s proposal
When the European Commission presented its proposal for an Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) earlier this year, EU Commission Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné called it a ‘change in doctrine – something that would have been unthinkable just a few months ago’. This analysis offers a more nuanced assessment.
The IAA confirms that industrial policy has truly arrived at the EU level and the proposal marks a genuine step forward by addressing demand, not just supply, and introducing an explicit language shift on local content. But the proposal reflects conflicting political priorities and contains loopholes that risk leaving delivery one step behind the rhetoric. Whether that changes will be decided in the negotiations ahead: in Parliament and Council, the gap can still be closed.

