The European Union has set a target of reaching 50 million tonnes of annual CO2 injection capacity in EU geological CO2 storage sites by 2030 to support the decarbonisation and competitiveness of Europe’s industry. The Commission reported in May that progress is well underway, with the first storage sites expected to come into operation this year. The meeting brought together senior representatives from heavy industry, infrastructure and transport operators, startups, trade unions and civil society organisations as well as regional and local authorities.
Participants agreed that scaling up carbon capture and storage requires coordinated action across the entire value chain. A clear message from the Dialogue was that investment in CO2 transport and storage infrastructure is essential to unlock CCS projects across the continent. Stakeholders called for faster and more predictable permitting, stronger cross-border cooperation, greater transparency and data sharing, and open access to infrastructure to help projects move from planning to deployment
The discussion also highlighted the importance of creating the right market conditions. Participants pointed to the Innovation Fund as a key driver of early CCS projects and stressed that stronger demand for low-carbon products, including through public procurement, will be critical to encourage investment and accelerate deployment.
Beyond emissions reductions, stakeholders also emphasised the wider benefits of CCS for Europe’s industrial future. They highlighted its role in supporting the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries, strengthening competitiveness, developing new skills and creating opportunities for regions in their clean transition.
Closing the Dialogue, Commissioner Hoekstra underlined the importance of building an integrated European market for CO2 transport and storage, based on close cooperation between industry, Member States and the Commission. The discussions will feed into the Commission’s work on future measures to support the development of CO2 transport infrastructure and markets, due by the end of 2026 as part of the Energy Union package.
