On 17 September 2026, Glass for Europe, in collaboration with Glass Alliance Europe, hosted a delegation from the European Commission at AGC Glass Europe’s float glass plant in Moustier, Belgium. The visit provided Commission officials with a first-hand view of flat glass manufacturing and an opportunity to discuss the sector’s competitiveness, decarbonisation challenges and investment needs.
Representatives from four European Commission Directorates-General took part in the visit, engaging directly with industry representatives on the realities of manufacturing flat glass in Europe. Discussions focused on the conditions required for European producers to maintain production while transitioning towards lower-carbon manufacturing.
Davide Cappellino, Chair of Glass for Europe, highlighted the difficult operating environment currently facing European flat glass manufacturers. The sector is dealing with high energy costs, weak demand, increasing international competition and substantial investment requirements, while simultaneously being expected to reduce the carbon intensity of production.
Energy was a central issue during the discussions. Flat glass furnaces operate continuously and require significant quantities of energy, making energy costs and availability critical factors for European production. Cappellino also stressed that decarbonisation requires major technological investments and appropriate market and policy conditions to support their deployment. 
The meeting also addressed opportunities arising from upcoming European policy initiatives. The proposed Industrial Accelerator Act could support stronger markets for European-made high-performance glazing products, while the Circular Economy Act could help improve material circularity and contribute to emissions reduction across the sector.
The visit concluded with Glass for Europe thanking the AGC Glass Europe Moustier team for hosting the European Commission delegation and facilitating the industry-policy exchange.
Source: Glass for Europe with additional information added by Glass Balkan
