In April 2025, the leaders of EUROFER and EUROMETAL met to discuss potential areas of cooperation to enhance messaging and initiatives to support the European steel industry and steel-using enterprises.
The reason for this initial introductory meeting was the Dialogue on Steel Production held on March 4, 2025, under the auspices of the European Commission, during which EUROMETAL expressed concern about the impact of imported steel derivatives on the European distribution, processing and manufacturing industries.
Both EUROFER and EUROMETAL have recognized that a reliable production base is essential for strategic autonomy and includes the entire steel supply chain, including steel production and processing. The Steel and Steel Products Action Plan provides a reliable starting point from which the European Union recognizes the industry's challenges and importance, but it requires concrete implementation into an effective regulatory framework. Sharing knowledge and perspectives across the value chain will improve the design and implementation of such policies and measures.
EUROMETAL holds a significant share of the steel intermediate processing market in Europe, accounting for almost 50% of EU supplies. These refiners are facing serious difficulties trying to remain competitive and need more determined and focused support. This steel industry is facing a shrinking customer base, especially in sectors that pose a broader threat to the entire European industrial ecosystem, as well as the European steel customer base, which requires a viable steel industry in Europe.
The two associations stressed that the weakening of this vital supply chain puts at risk 13.6 million steel processing jobs, intermediate suppliers, and manufacturing industries in the EU. The consequences go far beyond the economy — such a situation threatens broader European deindustrialization with the relocation of research facilities, the loss of innovation centers and increased dependence on foreign markets.
This meeting was an excellent start for further analysis and discussion, which will be continued in due course.
Axel Eggert, CEO of the European Steel Manufacturers Association (EUROFER), said: "Both EUROMETAL and EUROFER are very interested in dynamic European production. The steel industry's value chain benefits from the EU's economic sustainability and strategic autonomy, as well as investment, innovation, and quality
