German chancellor Friedrich Merz says he will schedule summits for the steel and automotive industries, which are both suffering from economic recession.
His announcement last week was in reaction to requests from numerous mills that have expressed the need for a high level meeting of industry with policymakers.
“I will very soon invite steelmaking companies as well as unions and [governments of] the states with steel production,” he said in a televised address. The aim is to retain a steel industry in Germany, he added.
The move has been welcomed by steel federation Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl. “Steel is not only the backbone of virtually all value chains, but also a cornerstone of our democracy and freedom,” says managing director Kerstin Maria Rippel.
In a statement sent to Kallanish upon request, she underlines that Europe’s future defence capabilities, competitive strength, and economic stability are at stake. “Securing the steel industry is therefore not only an economic policy task, but also a core component of the country’s security and resilience,” she notes.
Christian Koehl Germany
