On Wednesday 2 April, MEPs held a lengthy debate on the status of the steel sector in the European Union. They welcomed the action plan presented by the European Commission on 19 March (see EUROPE 13603/14). Many MEPs from the EPP, S&D, Renew Europe and Greens/EFA groups described this as a “step in the right direction”. However, the steel industry needs even more support, according to the same groups.
The PfE and ECR groups, as well as ESN, have not given their support to the action plan, as they feel it pursues the EU’s decarbonisation objectives, which they consider detrimental to the steel industry.
Trade issues in the steel sector were a major topic of discussion. A large number of elected representatives are focusing on the future of the European steel safeguard, which expires in June 2026. The European Commission, through its Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné, has reiterated its intention to propose a solution that protects European industry from Chinese overcapacity. The commissioner also pointed out that the current safeguard had just been strengthened (see EUROPE 13607/19).
MEPs also called for support for European exporters under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Here again, the Commission reiterated its ambition to propose a solution in the coming months.
The same applies to scrap steel exports, which are posing an availability problem for European producers. “We are currently working on export restrictions, if necessary in the coming weeks and months. There are major issues at stake here. This concerns not just steel production capacity, but also other types of metal that need ‘scrap’”, said Stéphane Séjourné. In its action plan, the Commission announced a proposal for the third quarter of 2025.
US tariffs on steel and aluminium, which came into force on 12 March, were also discussed at length, with MEPs expressing their deep concern. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)