IndustriAll Europe was invited to participate in a panel discussion on the opportunities and challenges facing the European battery sector, alongside representatives from the European Commission, industry, research institutions and civil society. The discussion explored how Europe can strengthen its battery ecosystem, reduce strategic dependencies, enhance industrial competitiveness and support the deployment of new battery technologies, including sodium batteries.

One of the strongest messages from the debate was the growing concern about Europe's position in sodium battery technologies. Speakers noted that China currently accounts for around 99% of global sodium battery production, raising fears that Europe could repeat in sodium batteries the loss of industrial leadership already experienced in other clean-tech sectors. At the same time, researchers stressed that Europe still retains significant research capacity and expertise and could strengthen its position through targeted investment in industrial deployment and manufacturing capacity.

Another recurring theme was the need for stronger training, skilling and reskilling efforts. Several speakers underlined that Europe's battery ambitions will require a much larger skilled workforce, particularly in production and technical occupations.

Speaking on behalf of industriAll Europe, Ildikó Krén stressed that Europe's battery challenge is not only technological, but also industrial and social:

"Europe needs batteries made in Europe by a skilled workforce, in quality jobs, with strong social dialogue, collective bargaining and safe working conditions."

While investment in research, support for industrial deployment and workforce development were widely recognised as priorities, the discussion also revealed how little attention is still paid to workers' rights, working conditions and social dialogue in many battery policy debates.

For industriAll Europe, this underlines the importance of continuing to organise and build workers' power in the battery sector. Europe's battery future will not only be shaped by technology, investment and industrial policy, but also by whether workers have a collective voice and a say over the transformation of their industry.

As Judith Kirton-Darling, industriAll Europe's General Secretary said:

"The race for batteries is also a race for workers. If workers are expected to build the industry of the future, they must also have a say in shaping it."

As new battery industries emerge across Europe, trade unions must be present from the beginning, organising, negotiating and ensuring that the transition delivers not only industrial competitiveness, but also quality jobs, safe workplaces and a fair share of the benefits for workers.

For industriAll Europe, building the battery industry and building trade union power go hand in hand.