European steelmakers have again called on the EU to take immediate action to support the industry

The industriAll Europe trade union and the European Steel Association (EUROFER) held an emergency social summit on steel, demanding urgent action from the EU to save the industry.

The summit took place ahead of the European Commission’s announcement on the impact of excess capacity in global metallurgy, which is due to be presented in mid-October. It was attended by the EC’s Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, Stéphane Séjourné.

“European social partners are united in calling for decisive and effective trade measures,” the summit statement said.

Metallurgical representatives also insist on the rapid and urgent implementation of the EU Action Plan for Steel and Metals, especially regarding energy prices and demand. In particular, this refers to maintaining the promised level of political ambition, which is important for the competitiveness of the European steel industry and the preservation of its “green” transition, as well as jobs for steelworkers across Europe.

industriAll Europe and EUROFER have called on the EC, the European Parliament, and Member States to take the following steps:

• fully and swiftly implement the text and spirit of the Action Plan on Steel and Metals;
• introduce ambitious trade defense measures;
• ensure that consumers benefit from renewable and low-carbon electricity;
• amend the CBAM to make it effective against any circumvention;
• keep exports of ferrous scrap within the EU to achieve the bloc’s circular economy, climate, and energy goals;
• introduce policies that will create leading markets for green steel produced in Europe. This should include public procurement measureslinked to social conditions for the use of public funds;
• support strong social policies to create good industrial jobs in Europe.

As EUROFER President Henrik Adam noted, steelmakers need new, powerful EU measures on steel trade, competitive energy prices, and European content provisions more than ever to ensure the viability and energy transition of European steel.

“Steel is the backbone of the European economy, but the sector is now on the brink of collapse. That is why trade unionists from across Europe have joined steel companies at this summit to call for urgent action,” said Judith Kirton-Darling, General Secretary of industriAll Europe.

It should be recalled that the European Commission will propose to almost halve steel import quotas and increase duties on volumes exceeding these levels to 50%, in line with the tariffs introduced by the US and Canada. The EC will officially present a new package of measures for the steel sector on October 7.