In order to achieve its objectives for the electrification of transport, Europe will need to multiply its lithium consumption by 15 by 2030, underlines the European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, during a visit to Montreal. And European countries will need allies like Canada to decarbonize their economies.
Mr. Breton was giving a joint conference with the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, organized by the Council for International Relations of Montreal (CORIM), on Monday.
They reiterated the importance of reducing the dependence of countries allied with China for various industrial processes. “Today, we are far too dependent on the semiconductor industry in Taiwan, [dont la souveraineté est contestée par la Chine], says Mr. Breton. It puts us at risk. »
China, rival and partner
During his presentation, the commissioner presented China as “a systemic rival” of Europe, while specifying that it was also an economic partner.
It is not a question of excluding all trade with China, but of having a certain autonomy, specified Mr. Breton during a scrum with the press on the sidelines of the conference.
He continued with the example of semiconductors. The European Union wants 20% of semiconductor production to take place in Europe. “We are not going to do everything. We are not repatriating everything. We are in the process of finding solutions that allow us to strengthen supply chains. »
If Europe wants to repatriate part of its production internally, it also wants to be able to rely on “friendly” partners, says Mr. Breton. He indicated that Canada stands out in particular with regard to the battery sector and green hydrogen.