Eurofer backs German steel policy proposal

Eurofer, a Brussels-based federation of European national steel trade groups that represents the entirety of steel production in the European Union, has backed a proposal for a European Pact for Steel offered by the German delegation to the European People’s Party (EPP).

The confederation calls it a "timely initiative in view of the start of the new EU legislative period,” saying that it strongly backs the creation of an EU high-level group to ensure the success of the transition of the EU steel sector with rapid interventions and urges Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to endorse it.

Eurofer, which also refers to itself as the European Steel Association, says it has consistently advocated for immediate action to address overcapacity and unfair trade practices, ensure access to internationally competitive clean energy as well as to essential raw materials such as scrap.

“The recent call for a European Steel Pact by the German delegation in the EPP Group makes the right analysis and proposes immediate action,” Eurofer Director General Axel Eggert says. “We count on Commission President von der Leyen to support this initiative and the proposal to build an action-oriented alliance of the EU institutions and key member states, chaired by an experienced and recognized politician.”

The German position paper, “Europäischer Stahlpakt (European Steel Pact),” was introduced July 10 and authored by Members of European Parliament (MEPs) Dennis Radtke and Christian Ehler.

The pact’s backers say an active group with access to policymakers can help create lead markets for European-made green products, make the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) waterproof, and better use funding instruments to support green investments.

“Tackling these issues as a matter of urgency is crucial to keep steel production in Europe and maintain its global leadership in clean technologies,” Eggert says. “Europe can only be stronger with European steel.”