The European Union has postponed its Accelerator Act until the end of February, a spokesperson of the cabinet of the European Commissioner for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy Stéphane Séjourné told Platts, part of S&P Global Energy on Jan. 26.
This is the second delay for a key legislation designed to boost demand for EU-made low-carbon steel and other industrial products.
“It has been postponed in order to maintain this to a very high level of ambition, as the deal is discussed today, and we believe that ambition should prevail over haste,” the spokesperson said.
The legislation was originally scheduled for publication by the end of December 2025, then pushed to the end of January before the latest delay to February. The Accelerator Act represents a critical piece of EU industrial policy aimed at boosting competitiveness, decarbonization and demand for European-made products.
Steel implications
For the steel sector, the legislation could prove pivotal as European steelmakers invest heavily in cleaner production technologies to manufacture low-carbon emissions steel. The act is expected to include public procurement requirements that would mandate a significant percentage of low-carbon steel made in Europe for infrastructure projects, rail networks, renewable energy installations and public buildings.
These sectors represent enormous steel demand, and preferential treatment for EU-produced low-carbon steel could provide crucial market support as the industry transitions to cleaner production methods.
The European steel industry faces mounting pressure from global overcapacity and geopolitical tensions that are reshaping supply chains.
Séjourné has also proposed another important measure for the steel industry — the new imports measures designed to replace the current safeguard that is due to expire at the end of June. The new measures must still be discussed by the plenary, as the committee already discussed it, the spokesperson said.
At the end of December 2025, the Council maintained the core protective elements of the Commission’s proposal, notably the substantial reduction in import quotas (limiting tariff-free import volumes to 18.3 million mt/year, a reduction of 47% compared to 2024 steel quotas) and the doubling of the out-of-quota duty to 50% compared to 25% under the current steel safeguard. At the same time, it incorporates several amendments to increase flexibility, legal clarity and consideration for the economic interests of downstream users.
Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed Northwest European hot-rolled coil carbon-accounted at Eur705/mt ex-works Ruhr Jan. 23, up Eur5/mt day over day.
On Jan. 23, Platts assessed domestic HRC in Northern Europe at Eur635/mt ex-works Ruhr, and imported HRC in Northern Europe at Eur505/mt CIF Antwerp, unchanged day over day.
