(ANSA) - BRUSSELS, DEC 10 - Mandatory dietary and recycling requirements for all batteries (industrial, automotive, electric and portable vehicles), including imported ones.
Thus the European Commission wants to regulate, for the first time since 2006, a rapidly growing market, with global demand set to increase by 14 times in the next 10 years and with Europe set to play a very important role in this context.
"It is legislation that looks to the future, to produce batteries in a sustainable, circular and safe way," said Environment Commissioner Virginjius Sinkevicius.
"Europe will begin to export batteries in 1-2 years after having been a net importer for years - added Paolo Gentiloni - in 2019-2020 EU investments in batteries exceeded those of the US and China".
The regulation also serves to give a certain and long-term regulatory framework to European production, supported by the Alliance for batteries born on a Franco-German initiative in which Italy also participates.
The Commission has already given the green light to 3.2 billion in public aid from a group of seven countries, including Italy, for a project of common interest (Pic) on research and innovation in all sectors of the sector.
And another project of the same type is under evaluation.
(HANDLE).