President Marco Marsilio is advancing his work on a CoR opinion "A Just Transition for all EU regions" with a special focus on the automotive industry. "If the current ban on the production of new vehicles with combustion engines as from 2035 is not revised by the next European Commission, automotive regions in the EU will need a massive support mechanism to ease the transition, which threatens millions of jobs in the sector", stressed President Marsilio speaking at a High-Level Seminar on Monitoring the Just Transition of automotive regions in the EU.

In this regard, President Marsilio will use his opinion to call on the next European Commission to come forward with the necessary proposal to ensure the continuity of the Just Transition Mechanism and its allocation of sufficient and additional funds to include support for regions directly or indirectly dependent on automotive and component supply industries and services.

"If it is true that the automotive sector is a pillar of the EU economy, providing almost 13 million direct and indirect jobs and contributing EUR 1 trillion to the EU's GDP, we must do everything to protect this asset instead of exposing it to external attacks", President of the Abruzzo region highlighted.

Especially in regions dependent on fossil fuels and energy-intensive industries, the transition is a very serious challenge that threatens the traditional economic and social basis of many territories. "The European Union's ambitious transition to a sustainable and climate-neutral economy has deeper and deeper implications for regions, workers, our industries and European society in general", stated the President.

For President Marsilio, in order to achieve climate objectives and strengthen resilience, it is crucial for the transition to not leave any territory or social group behind. "Only by promoting local and place-based solutions, actively involving citizens and defending the principle of technological neutrality, can we make the transition just and beneficial for all EU regions", concluded the ECR President.

On 22 May, President Marsilio also held a stakeholders consultation, bringing together over one hundred attendees from various organisations, including representatives of regions, industry, and civil society groups.