Unlocking Competitive, Affordable and Secure Electrification in Europe

The We Mean Business Coalition (WMBC) advocates for a coordinated EU framework to overcome barriers to electrification, such as high upfront costs and grid constraints. The coalition proposes a 50% electrification target by 2040 and suggests realigning financial incentives, modernising electricity grids, and mobilising public finance to de-risk private investment in clean energy technologies.

• The We Mean Business Coalition proposes that the European Union establish a legally embedded target of 50% electrification by 2040, supported by indicative allocations for Member States, to provide investor predictability and guide national planning.
• Businesses identify several systemic barriers slowing the pace of electrification, specifically on the demand side, including grid capacity constraints, high initial costs, regulatory fragmentation, and uncertainty regarding future electricity pricing.
• To improve the affordability of electricity-based solutions, the document recommends redirecting fossil fuel subsidies, ensuring electricity is not taxed more heavily than other sources, and implementing social leasing schemes and VAT reductions for electrification technologies.
• The coalition calls for the modernisation of electricity systems through streamlined grid connection procedures, the adoption of network codes that enable flexibility, and the use of grid-enhancing technologies and smart network charges.
• The document suggests using public financial mechanisms to crowd-in private capital, specifically mentioning the operationalisation of the European Competitiveness Fund and the Industrial Decarbonisation Bank to support electrification and the use of ETS revenues.

APA

Mendiluce, M., Whittington, E., Arratia, R., Riesenhuber, E., & de Miera, G. S. (2026). Unlocking Competitive, Affordable and Secure Electrification in Europe. We Mean Business Coalition. https://www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/what-we-do/for-policymakers/coalition-led-advocacy-interventions-from-business/unlocking-competitive-affordable-and-secure-electrification-in-europe/

Chicago

Mendiluce, María, Eliot Whittington, Ramon Arratia, Eva Riesenhuber, and Gonzalo Sáenz de Miera. Unlocking Competitive, Affordable and Secure Electrification in Europe. We Mean Business Coalition, 2026. https://www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/what-we-do/for-policymakers/coalition-led-advocacy-interventions-from-business/unlocking-competitive-affordable-and-secure-electrification-in-europe/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Mendiluce |first1=María |last2=Whittington |first2=Eliot |last3=Arratia |first3=Ramon |last4=Riesenhuber |first4=Eva |last5=de Miera |first5=Gonzalo Sáenz |title=Unlocking Competitive, Affordable and Secure Electrification in Europe |publisher=We Mean Business Coalition |date=15 June 2026 |url=https://www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/what-we-do/for-policymakers/coalition-led-advocacy-interventions-from-business/unlocking-competitive-affordable-and-secure-electrification-in-europe/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{mendiluce2026unlocking, author = {Mendiluce, María and Whittington, Eliot and Arratia, Ramon and Riesenhuber, Eva and de Miera, Gonzalo Sáenz}, title = {{Unlocking Competitive, Affordable and Secure Electrification in Europe}}, publisher = {We Mean Business Coalition}, year = {2026}, month = jun, url = {https://www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/what-we-do/for-policymakers/coalition-led-advocacy-interventions-from-business/unlocking-competitive-affordable-and-secure-electrification-in-europe/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }