Latest policy on exporting photovoltaic panels to the EU

Should Europe import solar panels from China?

of the ongoing aggression against Ukraine. With Europe importing 80 % of its solar panels from China, dependencies would merely shift from imported oil or gas to imported solar equipment, leaving much to be desired when it comes to the solar sector as a genuine sourc

What is the EU solar rooftop obligation?

These initiatives will introduce a legally binding EU solar rooftop obligation to ensure accelerated installation of solar panels on buildings, help create a skilled workforce necessary to produce, install and maintain solar panels, and support the EU industry in expanding the domestic production of photovoltaic panels.

When will the European Solar charter be implemented?

One year following the signature of the Charter, the Commission will review the implementation of the adopted commitments. The European Solar Charter, signed on 15 April 2024, sets out a series of voluntary actions to be undertaken to support the EU photovoltaic sector.

Does the EU have a competitive advantage in solar PV production?

When it comes to economic growth, it is difficult to expect solar PV manufacturing to provide a major contribution, given that the EU has no comparative advantage in producing the existing generation of solar panels, and it is not clear where any unrealised advantage might lie. Source: Bruegel based on Ignaciuk (2023).

What is the EU photovoltaic charter?

Signed today in the margins of the informal Energy Council meeting by the Commission – represented by EU Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson - energy ministers from 23 EU countries and industry representatives, the charter sets out a series of voluntary actions to be undertaken to support the EU photovoltaic sector.

Are solar panels a threat to EU energy security?

Lastly, as pointed out in a recent EPRS note on solar as a source of EU energy security, China is the dominant producer of solar PV panels, which creates a risk of a new dependency from this supplier. Source: Eurostat, 2020.