The European Steel Association has welcomed the attention given to the steel industry by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during today’s State of the Union address, in which she pledged to propose new measures to support clean manufacturing and Europe’s strategic industrial value chains.
In his statement, EUROFER Director General Axel Eggert underlined the severity of the challenges facing European steel producers:
“Our industry is currently facing all odds: global overcapacity, unfair trade practices, high energy prices, scarcity of strategic raw materials such as scrap, and the massive investment challenge of decarbonisation.”
The sector is now looking for concrete and urgent action — particularly on trade. Eggert emphasised the need for a robust successor to the current steel safeguard measures, which are due to expire in mid-2026. Without new tools in place, the EU market risks being overwhelmed by cheap, high-carbon imports that undermine domestic production and the EU’s climate ambitions.
President von der Leyen’s commitment to strengthening Europe’s clean manufacturing base, including proposals to support the transition to green production, promote circularity, and ensure energy access, was seen as a positive signal. However, Eggert stressed that implementation will be key:
“The Steel and Metals Action Plan (SMAP), unveiled last March, must be implemented in full – without watering down the ambition of the Commission President and her College of Commissioners.”
