The European steel industry is in crisis and facing unprecedented challenges from global overcapacity, unfair imports, and uncompetitive energy costs, industry and labor leaders warned at the Emergency Steel Social Summit in Brussels.
EUROFER (European Steel Association) and IndustriAll Europe issued a joint call for urgent EU action to protect 300,000 direct jobs and 2.3 million indirect jobs at risk across the sector.
The groups highlighted that in 2024 alone, the EU steel sector suffered 18,000 layoffs and 12 million mt of capacity closures. Between 2008 and 2023, over 100,000 jobs were lost and 26 million mt of production capacity shut down.
Key demands include:
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Swift implementation of the EU Steel & Metals Action Plan.
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Stronger trade defenses against unfair imports.
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Ensuring competitive energy prices and passing renewable electricity benefits to consumers.
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Adjustments to CBAM to prevent circumvention of EU climate policy.
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Keeping EU ferrous scrap exports within Europe.
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Introducing EU steel content requirements in public procurement.
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Strong social policies to protect workers.
Dr. Henrik Adam, EUROFER president, warned that urgent measures are needed before “all lights go out in large parts of the EU steel industry.”
Judith Kirton-Darling, general secretary of IndustriAll Europe, added:
“Saving steel is about saving entire industrial value chains. Steel is the backbone of Europe’s economy.”
The presence of Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné at the summit gave participants some reassurance that the future of European steel remains a priority for the EU Commission.
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