EUROMETAL contributes to high-level European Commission Dialogue on Environmental Assessments and Permitting
At the invitation of Commissioner Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, EUROMETAL took part in a high-level Implementation Dialogue on Environmental Assessments and Permitting.
The event convened key institutional and industry stakeholders to explore how to improve environmental permitting processes across the EU, with a focus on efficiency, predictability, and alignment with Europe’s green and industrial objectives.
Representing EUROMETAL, President Alexander Julius shared insights from Europe’s steel distribution, processing, and manufacturing sectors, emphasising that streamlined environmental assessments and permitting are critical not only for large industrial projects, but also for enabling innovation and investment across the wider manufacturing ecosystem.
The dialogue highlighted key challenges faced by EUROMETAL members, including fragmented procedures, limited administrative coordination, delays in grid connection approvals, and a shortage of qualified environmental professionals. These issues were further illustrated through concrete member experiences submitted ahead of the event.
In response, EUROMETAL presented a set of strategic recommendations to the European Commission, aimed at modernising and harmonising permitting frameworks, promoting digital tools, clarifying end-of-waste criteria, and aligning procedures with the EU Taxonomy for sustainable investment.
In her concluding remarks, Commissioner Roswall outlined the Commission’s priorities for reform, including better access to data, improved administrative capacity, process digitisation, clearer EU-level guidance, and stronger public engagement. She reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to continuously improving permitting procedures in support of environmental protection and industrial competitiveness.
EUROMETAL remains fully committed to working with EU institutions and Member States to ensure that permitting processes become a strategic enabler of Europe’s green and industrial transitions, not a bottleneck.
Jaap Jan Aardenburg: EU has to be more resilient in the face of more challenging conditions
Speaking at the EUROMETAL Steel Day & YISAD Flat Steel Conference held at Istanbul Marriott Hotel Asia on Tuesday, April 8, in cooperation with SteelOrbis, Jaap Jan Aardenburg, head of trade affairs of Tata Steel Nederland, made a presentation on the reasons leading to the widespread adoption of protectionist policies in the global market, how these policies affect the globe and how the EU’s preferred protectionist policies are given shape.
Mr. Aardenburg started his presentation with a general view of Tata Steel Nederland’s recent operations. Tata Steel Nederland has two blast furnaces at its integrated plants and has the capacity to produce more that 7 million mt of finished steel annually in more than 17,000 different specifications.
Employing more than 9,000 workers directly and creating 40,000 indirect job opportunities, Tata Steel Nederland has the second-largest steel service center in Europe. Moreover, the company has already started supplying low-carbon steel to end-users, while it is also aiming to replace one of its blast furnaces by EAF- and DRI-based production by 2030.
Addressing the global protectionist policies, the Tata Steel official stated that free trade has much empirical evidence on why it is better for a country’s economy and outlined several factors leading to the adoption of protectionism.
Listing national security, protection of infant industries, environmental policies, protection of jobs, and retaliation like that taken against Trump’s tariffs this year among these reasons, he pointed to the issue of global excess capacity as the single most important reason leading the global markets towards protectionism.
Mr. Aardenburg stated that global excess capacity is currently 602 million mt, and that the fact that demand has weakened in recent years while capacities have continued to increase has made the problem even worse. Regarding China, the country that has fueled this excess capacity problem the most.
He stated, “Since demand in the Chinese domestic market cannot reach the capacity levels, pressure is being exerted on foreign markets.
We recently heard that China will reduce its production capacity. You can disregard this possibility. Although there is pressure on China in the global market in this direction, one of the biggest key performance indicators of the Chinese government and local administrations is employment, which will eventually diminish in the case of production stoppages. For this reason, I think they will continue production.”
Stating that the EU is also dealing with the energy price crisis caused by the Ukraine-Russia war and the gradually weakening demand for steel, Aardenburg argued that the EU should be resilient in solving these problems.
The EU, he said, which applies fairly fair protection measures, has pursued policies in line with principles such as ensuring a level playing field, ensuring material availability and not imposing a tax on steel imports, but these measures implemented so far have been inadequate.
He added that the EU now acknowledges how important the manufacturing sector is and Trump’s second term as president has increased the necessity to follow a new policy and the Steel and Metal Action Plan prepared in this direction will ensure that the EU protects its competitiveness and its own steel sector.
EUROMETAL meets with EUROFER to address challenges facing the European Steel Market
On a visit to EUROFER headquarters in Brussels yesterday, EUROMETAL held a high-level meeting with Mr. Axel Eggert, Director General, and Mr. Karl Tachelet, Deputy Director General for International Affairs and External Relations.
EUROMETAL was represented by its President, Alexander Julius, Vice-President Fernando Espada, Board Member Jaap Jan Aardenburg, and Director General Ricardo Silva.
During the discussions, EUROMETAL raised serious concerns about the growing influx of imported finished steel products entering the European market. This trend, already identified in recent exchanges with processors and manufacturers, poses a significant threat to the entire European steel value chain.
EUROMETAL emphasized that the increasing volume of these imports of ready-made steel-based products is undermining both the distribution and production sectors. The impact is being felt across logistics, processing, and distribution, with broader implications for the overall competitiveness of the European manufacturing industry — an industry that supports 13.6 million direct jobs.
EUROMETAL called for close coordination and joint action with EUROFER to defend the integrity of the European market and ensure a level playing field for all stakeholders in the steel ecosystem.
EUROFER appreciated our position, and the meeting proved to be a solid foundation for exploring further collaboration in support of our shared agenda.
EUROMETAL re-invited by Mrs Von der Leyen to high-level EU Consultation on U.S. Tariffs Impact on Steel
EUROMETAL has received an official invitation from the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to participate in a high-level virtual meeting on Monday, 7 April 2025, to discuss the impact of U.S. tariffs on the EU steel and aluminium sectors.
The invitation follows the recent announcement by the U.S. administration to impose tariffs on steel, aluminium, and derivative products, including those originating from the European Union. This development is expected to have significant consequences for global trade and directly affect Europe’s metals industry and supply chains.
In response, the European Commission has launched a revised Steel and Metals Action Plan, effective from 1 April 2025, aimed at reinforcing the EU’s trade defense mechanisms. A new trade measure to replace existing steel safeguards is also under preparation for implementation from 1 July 2026.
The upcoming virtual meeting will serve as a strategic dialogue with key industry stakeholders, aiming to: gather insights on the real and anticipated impact of U.S. tariffs on EU steel and aluminium, explore sector proposals for an effective EU response, and help shape the next phase of EU trade defense policies.
EUROMETAL welcomes this initiative and will actively contribute to the discussion, continuing its mission to represent the interests of the European steel distribution, processing, and trading sectors.
We look forward to engaging with EU decision-makers and other industry leaders to ensure that Europe’s steel value chain remains strong, competitive, and protected.
Vantage Steel Group joins as Member of EUROMETAL
EUROMETAL is delighted to welcome Vantage Steel Group as a new Member company.
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Strategic steps for Steel: EU to outline long-term industry measures
On March 19, the EU plans to present an Action Plan on Steel and Metals, which will include additional sector-specific priority actions. This is stated in the report of the European Commission (EC) on the results of the Strategic Dialogue on Steel.
In addition, the plan will contain long-term steps to replace trade remedies that expire in June 2026. The document will also address a wide range of issues related to the industry, such as ensuring the commercial viability of clean steel production and responding to unfair trade practices.
The plan will include the results of a strategic dialogue with key representatives of the sector, which took place on March 4 under the chairmanship of EC President Ursula von der Leyen.
The strategic dialogue with the EC President brought together steel sector leaders and industry associations.
The European Steel Industry Association (Eurofer) welcomed the initiative. Eurofer CEO Axel Eggert said: “We are grateful that the Commission – at the very highest level – not only recognises these challenges but wants to work with our industry to find the right solutions».
The association continues to push for decisive action in four priority areas – trade defence measures, watertight CBAM, competitive energy prices and scrap retention in Europe.
Alexander Julius, President of EUROMETAL, which represents European steel, pipe and steel product distributors, emphasized during the dialogue that fair competition remains a crucial factor for the steel industry, and it is important for the EU to create a level playing field for the sector. In his opinion, this can be achieved by extending safeguard measures to semi-finished and finished products, which currently enter the bloc without hindrance. In addition, support for distribution, processing and manufacturing in the EU is important to stimulate innovation and create a basis for sustainable industrial activity, given Europe’s position between the US and China.
EUROMETAL also confirmed its willingness to actively participate in the CBAM working group.
As GMK Center reported earlier, on February 26, the European Commission presented the Clean Industry Agreement, a plan to support the competitiveness and future of manufacturing industries in Europe. The document positions decarbonization as a powerful driver for industrial growth. The Commission is also taking steps to make the regulatory environment more efficient, while reducing bureaucratic obstacles to business.
EUROMETAL joins European Commission’s Strategic Dialogue on Steel
The European steel sector took center stage as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen launched the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the Steel Sector. The high-level meeting gathered key industry leaders, social partners, and stakeholders, including EUROMETAL President Alexander Julius, to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the European steel supply chain.
A critical moment for European Steel
President von der Leyen opened the dialogue by emphasizing the historic and strategic importance of steel to the European Union, stating:
“Our European Union was built on a community of coal and steel. Steel is everywhere, from wind power to defence. But European steelmakers are at a crossroads, facing the challenges of necessary decarbonisation and partly unfair global competition. Today’s Dialogue is to lead to a tailored plan to help this sector decarbonise and thrive globally. We join forces to make a strong business case for steel made in Europe.”
The dialogue acknowledged that while steel production remains a cornerstone of European industry, the sector is under significant pressure due to high energy costs, global overcapacity, and declining product prices. These challenges have impacted investment in clean steel technologies, which are essential for the sector’s decarbonisation efforts.
Key outcomes of the Steel Dialogue
This first session laid the groundwork for future policy actions, reinforcing the importance of collaboration between industry and policymakers. Discussions were closely aligned with the Clean Industrial Deal, adopted in February, which aims to: lower energy costs for energy-intensive industries, create lead markets for low-carbon steel and accelerate investments through financial support exceeding €100 billion for clean manufacturing in the EU.
The dialogue will contribute to the development of a Steel and Metals Action Plan, which will outline sector-specific priority actions and long-term measures to replace current trade defence safeguard measures expiring in June 2026. The plan will focus on ensuring clean steel production is commercially viable, developing a strong response to unfair trading practices and identifying sustainable long-term solutions to safeguard the European steel market.
EUROMETAL’s Role and Key Priorities
As the representative body for European steel distributors, traders, and service centers, EUROMETAL played a pivotal role in ensuring that the concerns of steel distribution and processing were heard. EUROMETAL President Alexander M. Julius participated in the discussions, advocating for:
- A level playing field for steel users and manufacturers.
- Inclusion of finished and semi-finished products under protective trade measures.
- Stronger support for EU steel distribution, processing, and manufacturing to drive innovation and ensure sustainable industrial activities.
- A more inclusive approach in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to facilitate compliance and secure fair competition.
The road to the Steel and Metals Action Plan
Following this Strategic Dialogue, Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné has been tasked with presenting the Action Plan on Steel and Metals on 19 March 2025. This plan will define the next steps for policymakers and industry stakeholders, with regular involvement from the European Parliament and the Council.
EUROMETAL remains committed to actively engaging in this process to ensure that the voice of steel distributors, traders, and service centers is represented in shaping the future of European steel.
The Strategic Dialogue gathered top industry stakeholders, including: EUROMETAL, EUROFER, ESPA, EURIC, Euromines, FIEC, Agora Industry, WindEurope, ACEA, ArcelorMittal, Tata Steel Europe, ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe, Salzgitter, Riva-Stahl, Outokumpu, Celsa Group, Feralpi, Stegra, Zeliziarne Podbrezova, IndustriAll and GravitHy.
EUROMETAL President’s reactions after Steel Dialogue
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hosted today the Strategic Dialogue on Steel, bringing together key industry leaders to address the future of Europe’s steel sector. EUROMETAL President Alexander M. Julius participated in the discussions, ensuring the voice of steel distributors and service centers was heard on critical industry challenges.
EUROMETAL emphasized that fair competition remains crucial for the steelmaking sector. However, considering the 7.4 million people employed in the manufacturing of steel and metal-based products in the EU, it is equally important to create a level playing field for this sector. This can be achieved by extending protective measures to semi-finished and finished products, which currently enter the EU without any barriers. Given Europe’s position between the USA and China, supporting EU distribution, processing, and manufacturing is even more essential to foster innovation and establish a foundation for sustainable industrial activities.
In a subsequent discussion with European Commissioners, EUROMETAL also reiterated its desire to actively participate in a CBAM working group. This initiative would help the European Commission ensure that regulations are feasible for EU declarants, thereby maintaining a reliable service for the EU steel-using industry.
Eusider Trading joined as Member of EUROMETAL
EUROMETAL is delighted to welcome Eusider Trading as a new member company.
Eusider Trading SA, established in Switzerland in 2019, specializes in the global trading of flat and long steel products, as well as raw materials, with a particular focus on Metallics. The company procures high-quality materials worldwide, supplying key markets across Europe, MENA, and Latin America.
A strong emphasis is placed on coils, especially coated materials sourced from top-tier suppliers, which are regularly distributed to major steel service centers and stockists worldwide.
Thanks to the leadership of their CEO, Marco Micciché, and the active role of experienced steel professionals coming from previous engagements in primary international steel trade companies, Eusider Trading has expanded its reach and solidified its presence in global markets over the past five years.
Discover more: eusidertrading.com
European Commission schedules Steel Dialogue, reinforces strategic role
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will host a Strategic Dialogue on Steel on 4 March, Kallanish notes.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Commission reinforced that steel is a strategic sector, saying it plays a central role in the EU’s broader strategic autonomy.
The meeting is anticipated to bring together steel manufacturers, raw material suppliers, off-takers, and representatives of social partners and civil society. EUROMETAL will be represented by its president, Alexander Julius, the association says.
This comes ahead of the dedicated Steel and Metals Action, which Executive Vice-President Séjourné has been tasked with delivering in the spring. Feedback from the Steel Dialogue and related wider consultation will be fed into this dedicated plan.
“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,” von der Leyen notes. “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.”
“Europe has a plan for its industry: we must produce more, we must produce clean, and we must produce European,” says Séjourné. “This starts with our most strategic sectors: steel is one of them. We must protect our steel sector from unfair foreign competition and boost our own production of clean European steel.”
Key Strategic Dialogue 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. The Commission will inform and consult with the Council and European Parliament throughout the Dialogue process.
Proposals include the joint purchasing of raw materials on behalf of interested companies, which could ensure diversification of supplies, and a Circular Economy Act to incentivise the use of secondary scrap material in manufacturing. Also discussed will be the use of guarantees and risk reduction instruments to facilitate conclusion of long-term power purchase agreements, and to accelerate the uptake of hydrogen.
To speed up investment, the meeting will also discuss the creation of a dedicated financing mechanism for industrial decarbonisation based on the auctions-as-a-service model.
On the foreign trade front, global overcapacity is expected to reach 630 million tonnes in 2026. This means “it is essential to make more efficient use of anti-dumping or anti-subsidy duties to prevent that our market becomes an export destination for state-induced excess steel production,” the Commission says.
In addition, the safeguard measures for steel currently in place are set to expire by June 2026. The Commission will define a long-term solution to replace those measures in light of global non-market overcapacity, it concludes.
Adam Smith Poland
