Photo courtesy of Eurofer and ThyssennKrupp Steel Europe AG
Eurofer,
a Brussels-based federation of European national steel trade groups that says
it “represents the entirety of steel production in the European Union,” has
announced it backs a proposal for a European Pact for Steel that has been
offered by the German delegation to the European People’s Party (EPP).
The continentwide
confederation calls it “a timely initiative in view of the start of the new EU
legislative period,” adding it “strongly backs the creation of an EU high-level
group, led by a renowned political personality, 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 has
begun referring 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,” says Axel Eggert, director general of
Eurofer. “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, titled “Europäischer Stahlpakt (European Steel Pact),” was introduced
this July 10 and authored in part 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,” says Eggert. “Europe can only be
stronger with European steel.