Steel and Metals Action Plan, new strategic dialogue

As announced by President von der Leyen on 7 February, the European Commission will set up a Strategic Dialogue on Steel aimed at charting a decisive course for the future of the European steel industry.  The initiative underscores the Commission’s firm commitment to this strategic sector, recognizing its central role in innovation, growth, employment, and the EU’s broader strategic autonomy.

 

 

 

On the basis of a common understanding on the challenges ahead, Executive Vice-President Séjourné has been tasked with developing a dedicated Steel and Metals Action Plan, to be launched in spring of this year.

President Ursula von der Leyen said “The steel industry is a key sector of our European single market. At the same time this industry is of utmost importance in our fight against climate change. The Strategic Dialogue will help develop a concrete Action Plan to tackle the unique challenges of this sector in the clean industrial transition. We want to ensure that the European steel industry is both competitive and sustainable in the long-term.”

Faced with unprecedented challenges – soaring energy costs, raw material access issues, unfair global competition, and new US tariffs – the steel industry requires targeted action. The Strategic Dialogue on Steel aims to deliver a robust, actionable plan for the sector’s future.

On 4 March, President Ursula von der Leyen will chair the high-level meeting of the Strategic Dialogue on Steel. Key representatives from across the steel value chain, including steel manufacturers, raw material suppliers, off-takers, and representatives of social partners and civil society have been invited to participate to this meeting.

The Dialogue will build upon the foundation laid by the recently published EU Competitiveness Compass and the forthcoming EU Clean Industrial Deal. Key discussion points will include how to enhance competitiveness and circularity, drive the clean transition, decarbonisation, and electrification, ensure fair trade relations and an international level playing field. Further information can be found in the annexed Concept Note that will guide the discussions in the Strategic Dialogue.

The Commission will inform and consult with the Council and European Parliament throughout the Dialogue process. Wider consultations with other stakeholders across the industry will also be conducted

Background

The European steel industry is a vital component of the EU economy and a key enabler of its strategic autonomy.

The European steel industry, with approximately 500 production sites across 22 Member States, contributes around EUR 80 billion to the EU’s GDP and supports over 2.5 million jobs. It provides essential inputs to critical sectors such as automotive, construction, defence, net-zero technologies, electric vehicles (EVs), and critical infrastructure, underpinning entire industrial value chains.

More information: European Commission.