Situation of the silicon industry in Europe and in France
15.9.2025
Priority question for written answer P-003550/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Pierre Jouvet (S&D), Murielle Laurent (S&D), Chloé Ridel (S&D), François Kalfon (S&D), Nora Mebarek (S&D), Raphaël Glucksmann (S&D), Thomas Pellerin-Carlin (S&D), Christophe Clergeau (S&D), Aurore Lalucq (S&D), Jean-Marc Germain (S&D), Eric Sargiacomo (S&D), Claire Fita (S&D), Emma Rafowicz (S&D)
Since 2014, silicon and its derivatives have been included on the list of critical raw materials. Access to raw materials is essential for the EU economy and silicon metal is particularly crucial for the strategic semiconductor, photovoltaic and other electronic components industries.
In Europe, silicon is processed at industrial sites based in Spain, Germany and France, particularly in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, which has many chemical processing facilities. Today, the electrometallurgical industry is in crisis, with the silicon sector most affected. Ferropem has announced that it is to temporarily lay off workers at its Clavaux, Montricher and Anglefort sites.
As in many sectors, European industries are facing an economic slowdown in the domestic market together with a combination of US tariffs and a surge in Chinese overcapacity, which is undercutting European production by 30-40% .
- 1.What mechanisms does the Commission intend to put in place to protect the strategic European silicon industry?
- 2.Does it intend to adopt specific anti-dumping measures?
- 3.What specific support is it preparing for Europe’s industrial SMEs?
Submitted: 15.9.2025