Posted on 27 Oct 2025
Market participants have called for the promotion of a competitive industry, a support system to make financing the energy transition feasible, and the closing of loopholes that allow the entry of products from third countries which creates unfair competition.
The comments were made at the recent “Forging the future: key factors for a competitive EU steel industry” conference.
All these challenges come within a framework of enormous difficulties, such as reaching agreements within the EU amid the multiple interests of its member countries, steel industry representatives noted during a seminar held in Avilés last week by the Commission for Economic Policy under the European Committee of the Regions (CoR).
According to the executive director of ArcelorMittal Spain, Philippe Meyran, EU policy must be more engaged in promoting the consumption of low-emission steel. Maintaining a strong steel industry is essential for developed economies and social welfare.
"We have to tackle Europe's problems by tackling the problems of the steel industry,” Meyran commented at the event monitored by Kallanish. “Companies must be profitable, but we have problems, such as with dumping from third countries, CO2 emissions taxes that account for 25% of costs, the energy price and the high level of wages compared to other non-EU producers.”
The executive explained that the sector must have a level playing field across Europe, with sufficient electricity generation at an acceptable cost to achieve decarbonisation goals, and a sufficient electricity transmission grid.
His point of view was supported by German MEP Isolde Ries, who warned of the risk of a legal gap that allows Chinese products to enter the EU via Turkey.
"We need real protectionist measures, abundant energy at affordable prices and solidarity,” she remarked.
“Europe needs a decarbonised steel sector and must promote low-emission products, while raising awareness among society to consume them, even if this means paying a little more," she concluded.
The European Commission is considering including the steel processing industry, in particular the metalworking sector, into its new protection plan. Alberto Cirio, president of the Commission for Economic Affairs, explained that the CoR is in the final stages of drafting its report on the action plan, and the conclusions drawn from it will be very important for the Commission’s final decision.
Source:Kallanish
