EUROFER Director General Axel Eggert, in his speech during the conference, pointed out that the European steel industry is facing unprecedented challenges and thanked the French and Italian governments for launching this initiative. “This meeting took place just one day after the European Commission presented the Clean Industrial Deal and ahead of the Steel Strategic Dialogue. It should therefore provide clear political guidance for effective and structural solutions at European and national level.”
Eggert called on all European Union (EU) member states to take action against critical issues directly affecting the steel sector, such as unfair trade practices, Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) gaps and high energy prices . He added; “This initiative will provide a major boost to the steel sector, accelerating the decarbonization process and enabling a just transition for the workforce,”
EUROFER called for urgent and effective action in four key priority areas to address the challenges facing the steel sector:
Trade: Tighten existing safeguard measures to bring them in line with today's market realities, develop a more robust and comprehensive tariff regime to halt the overflow effects of global steel overcapacity before safeguards expire in June 2026, and ensure ambitious and effective implementation of EU trade defence instruments.
CBAM: Ensure a watertight Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism that prevents entanglement, source shifting and carbon leakage, while maintaining the competitiveness of EU steel exports and discouraging the movement of production value chains outside the EU.
Energy: Deliver affordable clean energy and ensure the competitiveness of the sector by passing on the benefits of renewable and low-carbon electricity to consumers.
Scrap Iron: Support circular economy goals, industrial decarbonization, strategic autonomy and energy security by protecting this valuable but scarce resource in Europe.
Eggert added: “Across Europe, we are witnessing steel mill closures, job losses and the suspension of decarbonization projects at a time when Europe's geopolitical and economic sovereignty is more important than ever. It is in Europe's interest to reverse this trend and instead instill confidence in European steel companies. We look forward to the outcome of this meeting, supported by Member States and combined with other initiatives of the EU institutions, being taken into account and making a positive contribution to the Steel Strategic Dialogue and the Steel Action Plan.”
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