MPs began consideration on Monday of the first reading of the green industry bill, a range of measures aimed at accelerating the "decarbonized reindustrialisation" of the country according to the government, but whose opposition criticizes the lack of ambition.
Among the most critical, the Insoumis immediately announced the color by defending, without success, a "motion of prior rejection" of this emblematic text for the executive, which made industrial reconquest a priority battle after the crisis of the retreats.
In the hemicycle, the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire borrowed words from General de Gaulle, calling for being "dynamic and expeditious" to lead this fight. French industry must "regain its letters of nobility", by putting an end to the "economic suicide of deindustrialization".
The bill, widely adopted at first reading by the Senate, will support the "decarbonization of existing industry" and "invest in the five key technologies" known as the "Big five" (wind, photovoltaic, pumps heat, batteries and carbon-free hydrogen), pleaded Mr. Le Maire, "without creating I don't know what additional tax".
To encourage installations in France, the government is notably putting on the table simplified procedures for obtaining authorizations to open factories. The text sets the objective of halving the average time, currently estimated at 17 months.
One component focuses on the mobilization of land with "radical measures" according to the executive, which should allow the provision of industry to 50 depolluted sites.
On the financing side, the government is emphasizing the mobilization of private savings. With a new product for those under 18, the "future climate savings plan", which he expects to collect one billion euros.
By also mobilizing more retirement savings and life insurance, he hopes for a total of 5 billion in private savings.
A label would also be created to give virtuous companies privileged access to public procurement, a "Copernican revolution" according to the Minister of Industry Roland Lescure.
But the text has been the subject of crossfire from the opposition, all of whom agree to point to too limited ambitions.
It is a "small text", "greenwashing", lamented the LFI deputies, who presented a counter-project to the press.
Their "motion to reject", however, only garnered support from communists and environmentalists. The latter criticized the government for evading the debate on respect for "the limits of the planet's resources".
Socialist Gérard Leseul deemed it "essential" to adopt amendments requiring the state to develop a "national strategy" for green industry until 2030. This measure had been introduced by the Senate, but the presidential camp had obtained its suppression in committee at the Assembly.
At the RN, Alexandre Loubet mocked a "sprinkling of scoops" in a "bureaucratic and visionless" text.
"The text is going in the right direction" but remains "far from the ambitions displayed", judged on the right Virginie Duby-Muller (LR), regretting that the cost of labor in France or the training of employees are not dealt with. "We hope that our proposals will be heard," she warned, referring to the many amendments from her group.
The first debates revolved around the very notion of green industry, which is little explained in the text. And of which the opposition groups have proposed, in vain, more or less broad definitions.
Mr. Le Maire said he was against “fixing” a definition. He explained that some measures targeted all industries while others were reserved for projects "of major interest for ecological transition".
The deputies validated a first article providing that the regions will set industrial development objectives. Against the advice of the government, they adopted a socialist amendment providing for the appointment of a coordinating prefect in the regions where projects "of major national interest" are planned. A provision already introduced in the Senate but erased in committee in the Assembly.
Debates are due to resume on Tuesday, with more than 1,100 amendments remaining. To complete the review, sitting days were added on July 22 and 23, pushing back the MPs' summer recess.
7/18/2023 00:56:09 - Paris (AFP) - © 2023 AFP
