Brussels, 27/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - A high-level working group, chaired by the European Commission, will draft recommendations ahead of an action plan for restructuring the sector.
Industry Commissioner Antonio Tajani will, on Monday 30 July, chair the first meeting of a working group which brings together the heads of Europe's major steel-making companies and representatives of the European Steel Association, Eurofer, to discuss possible measures to help improve the competitiveness of the steel sector on the global market. With the crisis, the European steel industry has seen annual production fall from 9.38 million tonnes in 2006 to 5.9 million tonnes in 2009, before climbing again to 7.5 million tonnes in 2010, according to figures published by Eurofer. Facing competition from countries, like China, where labour costs are lower and regulations on social and environmental standards less tight, the European industry is experiencing a drop in demand and also overcapacity. The steel industry is a key part of Europe's industrial base, said Tajani. “We must support efforts to modernise and become more competitive, by focusing attention on environmental impact and o more efficient use of resources”, he added.
Discussions will centre on the challenges facing the sector in terms of accessing raw materials, fair competition, the environmental impact and also innovation, notably with regard to opportunities being offered to the sector in relation to innovative goods and products used in emerging sectors, such as the infrastructure network and the green economy. The working group's recommendations will form the basis of a European action plan in support of industry efforts. (EH/transl.rt)