The European Steel Association welcomed the attention paid to the steel industry by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, during today's State of the Union address, in which she promised to propose new measures to support environmentally friendly production. manufacturing and strategic industrial value chains in Europe.
In a statement, EUROFER CEO Axel Eggert highlighted the seriousness of the challenges facing European steel producers.:
"Currently, our industry is facing all the difficulties: a global oversupply of production capacity, unfair trade practices, high energy prices, a shortage of strategic raw materials such as scrap metal, and large-scale investment problems related to decarbonization."
The sector currently needs concrete and urgent action, especially in the area of trade. Eggert stressed the need to adopt a reliable solution in addition to the existing protective measures for steel, which expire in mid-2026. Without the introduction of new tools, the EU market risks being overwhelmed by cheap, high-carbon imports, which undermine domestic production and the EU's climate ambitions.
President von der Leyen's commitment to strengthening the clean production base in Europe, including proposals to support the transition to green manufacturing, promote cycling and ensure access to energy, was seen as a positive signal. Nevertheless, Eggert stressed that implementation will be crucial.:
"The Action Plan for Steel and Metals Production (SMAP), unveiled in March last year, must be implemented in full – without prejudice to the ambitions of the President of the Commission and its Board of Commissioners."
