MEPs Move to Restrict 'Made in Europe' Label to Internal Production

The draft report on the Industrial Accelerator Act, unveiled to three parliamentary committees on Monday, signals a protectionist turn in industrial policy. By narrowing the scope of the label, MEPs aim to prioritize domestic production over global supply chains. While the current proposal excludes international partners, the legislation leaves a narrow door open for countries like Japan or Korea to eventually qualify, provided they satisfy rigorous, yet-to-be-defined criteria.

This stance puts the Parliament at odds with the Commission’s original vision. The Commission’s draft had sought to extend the benefits of the act to any nation holding a procurement or free-trade deal with the bloc. By tightening these requirements, MEPs are attempting to ensure that public funding and procurement opportunities directly bolster the European industrial base rather than dispersing support across a wide network of global trade partners.