AFP reported that Belgium, France and Luxembourg plan to act in concert against steelmaker ArcelorMittal's continuing closure of sites across Europe.

Mr Etienne Schneider economy minister of Luxembourg said that "We want to act together between France, Belgium and Luxembourg to find ways of avoiding the closure of sites even when they're profitable."

Mr Schneider, speaking in the city that hosts the headquarters of the world's leading steel and mining company, said that some hard ideas had been raised but added that "It is premature to make them public."

Ministers from the three nations will meet in mid September 2012 in Paris to examine ways of possibly legislating against the closure of industrial sites.

Earlier, France's new socialist industrial renewal minister Mr Arnaud Montebourg had said that he was hoping governments across Europe would band together to take on ArcelorMittal, which is headed by Indian magnate Mr LN Mittal. He added that "I am trying to build a response from nations faced by the power of a group like ArcelorMittal. It is important to have direct contacts with industry minister counterparts in all of Europe where there are ArcelorMittal plants."

ArcelorMittal is the leading supplier of steel products in all major markets including automotive, construction, household appliances and packaging. It operates in 60 countries and employs about 260,000 people worldwide. It has temporarily closed several sites in Europe, in France as well as Belgium and Spain. In Luxembourg, it has temporarily closed a blast furnace at Schifflange and cut production at the Rodange site.

Mr Montebourg plans to discuss the issue also in Spain and in Germany.

Source - Agence France Presse

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