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EU can not close borders to solar imports, energy chief states

The European Union should support having a hard time European makers of solar panels, but can not close its borders to imports of such products, EU energy policy chief Kadri Simson said on Monday.

Factory closures amongst Europe's few photovoltaic panel makers have prompted the industry to seek emergency situation assistance from Brussels - potentially including trade limitations on inexpensive Chinese imports that European companies have actually struggled to compete with.

However, Simson ruled out cutting off imports, which she said might jeopardize the EU's ability to set up enough solar energy capability to satisfy climate targets. The majority of photovoltaic panels and parts deployed in Europe are imported from China.

There are different propositions how we can support our market, but clearly we can not close our borders since we require photovoltaic panels, Simson informed reporters on her arrival to a. conference of EU nations' energy ministers.

We have to support our market, however we need all the. items to meet our really enthusiastic targets, she included.

EU nations' energy ministers will discuss propositions to. address the sector's difficulties on Monday.

The ideas, which Simson and EU market commissioner. Thierry Breton detailed in a letter to the ministers ahead of. the meeting, consist of using more national state help to support. solar makers, and organising solar auctions and support. schemes that support photovoltaic panels with high ecological and. labour requirements - criteria that could offer EU manufacturers an. edge.

Companies installing solar capacity might likewise devote to. including EU-made products in their portfolios, stated the letter,. seen . It suggested ministers jointly accept take up. some of the proposals at one of their upcoming EU meetings.

EU nations installed record levels of solar capacity last. year, 40% more than in 2022. The majority of those panels and parts came. from China-- sometimes, 95%, International Energy Firm. information show.

(source: Reuters)