On 15 September 2021, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced an EU Chips Act in her State of the Union speech, pointing out the needs to link together Europe’s world-class research capacities and to coordinate EU and national investment along the value chain.
The EU Chips Act proposes to build on Europe’s strengths and address outstanding weaknesses, to develop a thriving semiconductor ecosystem and resilient supply chain, while setting measures to prepare, anticipate and respond to future supply chain disruptions.
The Chips Act is a unique opportunity for Europe to act jointly across all Member States and to the benefit of the whole of Europe. In the short term, it will allow to understand and anticipate future chips crises, addressing them through close coordination with Member States and equipping the Union with the instruments that some like-minded countries have at their disposal.
In the short- to mid-term, it will strengthen manufacturing activities in the Union and support scale-up and innovation across the whole value chain addressing security of supply and a more resilient ecosystem. And, in the mid- to long-term, it will reinforce Europe’s technological leadership while preparing the required technological capabilities that would support transfer of knowledge from the lab to the fab and position Europe as a technology leader in innovative downstream markets.
Communication from the Commission: A Chips Act for Europe
The Communication in all official languages.
Proposal for a Regulation establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe's semiconductor ecosystem (Chips Act)
The proposal in all official languages.
Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2021/2085 establishing the Joint Undertakings under Horizon Europe, as regards the Chips Joint Undertaking
The proposed regulation in all official languages.
Commission Recommendation on a common Union toolbox to address semiconductor shortages and an EU mechanism for monitoring the semiconductor ecosystem
The Recommendation in all official languages.
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Policy and legislation | 12 May 2022
This Staff Working Document aims to explain why Europe needs to act now to address shortcomings in key chip design and manufacturing competences and facilities to ensure its resilience against supply chain disruptions.