Germany has called on the European Union to significantly increase the use of low-emission steel in the automotive industry as part of a broader effort to align industrial policy with Europe's climate-neutral goals. In a joint letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, 11 German state premiers called on the European Commission to ensure regulatory consistency between the steel and automotive sectors.
Pure steel as the foundation of Europe's industrial and climatic future
Kerstin Maria Rippel, CEO of the German Federation of Steel Manufacturers (WV Stahl), welcomed the move, stressing that low-emission steel production in Germany and across the EU is essential to protect the continent's industrial base and ensure the transition to climate neutrality.
She stressed that market incentives along the entire value chain, starting with basic materials, are necessary to ensure competitiveness and support long-term investments in environmentally friendly technologies.
The use of low-emission steel for production purposes is seen as a key policy tool.
Rippel identified one policy mechanism with significant potential: allowing car manufacturers to take into account the proven reduction in carbon dioxide emissions achieved through the use of certified low-emission steel when meeting greenhouse gas emissions targets in EU fleets. Such an approach would contribute to the creation of added value in industry, increase competitiveness and at the same time contribute to climate protection, she added.
The steel industry, Rippel emphasized, is ready to contribute to this transition, but it needs a regulatory framework that supports large-scale investments and closely integrates the strategies of the steel and automotive sectors.
Steelorbis.com
