The European Steel Association has warned that the emergency measures presented on 14 September by the European Commission are not ambitious not swift enough to bring down energy prices and to preserve millions of jobs in industrial sectors such as steel that are exposed to fierce global competition and emergency situations require emergency measures also for industry., EUROFER Director General Mr Axel Eggert said “The Commission proposals show limited ambition and scope, as they will not reduce energy prices and costs for the steel industry towards a sustainable level which would keep the sector competitive. The European market is currently being flooded by cheaper imports from third countries that are subject to only a fraction of the energy costs EU steel producers have to bear.”He added “Reduction of demand, a temporary revenue cap on ‘inframarginal' electricity producers as well as a temporary solidarity contribution on excess profits generated from activities in the oil and gas sectors, and the expansion of the Energy Prices Toolbox covering SMEs only, fall short of securing affordable energy supplies to energy intensive industries without delay, thus supporting their viability.”Mr Eggert said “Unfortunately, these measures are unlikely to stop the current trend of production curtailments and temporary lay-offs. Without swift actions, these could become permanent and the EU would jeopardize the resilience of its domestic steel sector, which is a strategic asset for the EU’s own autonomy on which key downstream sectors such as automotive, construction, mechanical engineering, defence, health, sanitary and renewable energy equipment, depend.”The European steel sector asks for immediate, more ambitious and more industry-targeted measures to bring down energy prices and costs for industries exposed to fierce global competition. Mr Eggert concluded “Emergency situations require emergency measures also for industry to preserve millions of jobs in Europe. We stand ready to discuss with EU policymakers with utmost urgency.”
The European Steel Association has warned that the emergency measures presented on 14 September by the European Commission are not ambitious not swift enough to bring down energy prices and to preserve millions of jobs in industrial sectors such as steel that are exposed to fierce global competition and emergency situations require emergency measures also for industry., EUROFER Director General Mr Axel Eggert said “The Commission proposals show limited ambition and scope, as they will not reduce energy prices and costs for the steel industry towards a sustainable level which would keep the sector competitive. The European market is currently being flooded by cheaper imports from third countries that are subject to only a fraction of the energy costs EU steel producers have to bear.”He added “Reduction of demand, a temporary revenue cap on ‘inframarginal' electricity producers as well as a temporary solidarity contribution on excess profits generated from activities in the oil and gas sectors, and the expansion of the Energy Prices Toolbox covering SMEs only, fall short of securing affordable energy supplies to energy intensive industries without delay, thus supporting their viability.”Mr Eggert said “Unfortunately, these measures are unlikely to stop the current trend of production curtailments and temporary lay-offs. Without swift actions, these could become permanent and the EU would jeopardize the resilience of its domestic steel sector, which is a strategic asset for the EU’s own autonomy on which key downstream sectors such as automotive, construction, mechanical engineering, defence, health, sanitary and renewable energy equipment, depend.”The European steel sector asks for immediate, more ambitious and more industry-targeted measures to bring down energy prices and costs for industries exposed to fierce global competition. Mr Eggert concluded “Emergency situations require emergency measures also for industry to preserve millions of jobs in Europe. We stand ready to discuss with EU policymakers with utmost urgency.”
