IndustriAll Europe participated in the Strategic Dialogue on Steel, initiated by the European Commission on 4 March
The European steel industry is at a breaking point. Faced with soaring energy costs, declining demand, global overcapacity, and increasing competition from non-EU producers, the sector is struggling to survive. With tens of thousands of jobs already lost across Europe and production levels plummeting, urgent action is needed at the EU level to ensure that steel remains a cornerstone of European industry.
IndustriAll Europe participated in the Strategic Dialogue on Steel, initiated by the European Commission on 4 March, just days after the publication of the Clean Industrial Deal. This high-level exchange, bringing together key industry stakeholders, aims to discuss concrete measures to support the EU steel sector and shape the Steel and Metals Action Plan, set for publication in spring 2025.
A Sector in Decline
Since 2008, the industry has shed 100,000 jobs, including 30,000 since 2014. Production has dropped by 30 million tonnes in the past year, while competitors in China and India continue expanding. Many European steel plants face closures or cutbacks, exacerbating job losses and economic uncertainty. This threatens not only steelworkers but also the EU’s Green Deal goals and strategic autonomy.
European Response: Towards a Steel Action Plan
The Strategic Dialogue on Steel is a crucial step towards addressing these challenges. The European Commission will propose targetted measures to support the sector, including potential specific actions on energy pricings, trade defense, raw materials security but also decarbonisation support and market demand stimulation and it is more than important that our demands are well reflected in the plan.
IndustriAll Europe’s Position: A Call for Immediate Action
IndustriAll Europe, representing workers across the steel sector, is calling for urgent and concrete measures to safeguard jobs, ensure fair competition, and secure the sector’s green transition. Alongside Eurofer, we have jointly endorsed a EU Steel Action Plan, which must now be implemented in full and urgently.
“Europe’s steel industry is at a crossroads. We need urgent action to safeguard jobs, secure fair competition, and drive the green transition. We also insist that public support must come with strong social conditions. Investing in European-made green steel, ensuring fair electricity prices, and delivering a Just Transition are not just economic necessities, they are fundamental to Europe’s industrial future. Workers and their communities cannot wait any longer—now is the time to act.” said Jürgen Kerner, vice-president of industriAll Europe.
Judith Kirton Darling, General Secretary of industriAll Europe added: “The European steel sector is facing an existential crisis, but it is not too late to act. Policymakers must urgently decide on strong measures to ensure steel production remains viable in Europe. A robust Steel and Metal Action Plan must be adopted without delay, ensuring the industry’s resilience, sustainability, and capacity to provide high-quality jobs for generations to come.”