European industry is organising a campaign in Brussels to defend the manufacturing sector

On 7 September, industry representatives from across Europe will gather for a demonstration in Brussels outside the European Commission’s headquarters to call on politicians to safeguard European manufacturing. This is according to Eurometal.

It is noted that steel producers, distributors, service centres, trading companies, SMEs and workers are facing mounting challenges that threaten investment, production, the resilience of supply chains and quality jobs in the industry.

The aim of the event is to highlight the need to create a policy framework that will strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, support investment and protect jobs in the industry.

As noted by Eurometal – an association representing distributors of steel, pipes and metal products – the initiative is a response to the lack of feedback and action from European policymakers in response to the recent call to protect the EU’s manufacturing industry.

The association believes that the new protective measures on steel do not pay sufficient attention to the consequences for distributors, processors and manufacturers operating further down the production chain. Without an appropriate response, the competitiveness and survival of many companies that use steel products – and, ultimately, the European manufacturing industry itself – will remain under threat.

The campaign will therefore call for the extension of these protective measures to products and components in the manufacture of which steel is widely used.

Eurometal invites companies, associations and all industry representatives to take an active part in this European initiative by sending their lorries to Brussels. The association will publish further information on the programme, logistics and registration in the near future.

It should be recalled that in May, European industrialists stepped up pressure on EU regulators, demanding that the CBAM mechanism be extended to the manufacturing sectors, including steel and aluminium products. This position was set out in a joint statement by a number of industry associations.