EC Vice President Energy Union Maros Sefcovic in public discussion in Kosice
Last Friday, November 21, the Euractiv information portal, the American Chamber of Commerce in Slovakia and the Representation of the European Commission in the
Slovak Republic jointly organized an EU Stakeholder Brunch in Kosice involving the Vice President of the European Commission responsible for Energy Union, Maros Sefcovic. This meeting started of
the first public discussion about the building of European energy union. Along with the representatives of several other industrial companies, public institutions and associations, the active
participants included members of the management of U. S. Steel Kosice led by USSK President George F. Babcoke and Vice President External Affairs, Administration and Business
Development Miroslav Kiralvarga.
At the accompanying press briefing Mr. Sefcovic informed journalists that the energy union project has become one of the three key priorities which the European
Commission and the European Union have set themselves in the coming years. Another priority he indicated would be the implementation of an investment package worth a total of 300 billion euros,
which should be presented to the public in Europe in the coming days, the aim being to stimulate demand and investment in the energy sector. The third important priority will be completion of the
single market in the field of digital economics, which is expected next year. In the spring of 2015 Mr. Sefcovic intends to present the political concept of European energy union, which should
result in the establishment of the kind of competitive environment in the European Union that will lead to lower energy prices, both for individual inhbitants as well as for businesses. He
explained that at the meeting he had also presented the five fundamental pillars of energy union in Europe, which he intends to develop further and present in more detailed form at the end of
January next year. Then it will be a case of gradually gaining political support for his plan, followed by the practical support of the people of Europe.
TUV SÜD Slovakia auditors reassess USSK'S Environmental Management System
Last week at U. S. Steel Kosice the second recertification audit of the environmental management system in line with international standard ISO 14001:2004 was carried out by auditors from the TUV SÜD Slovakia certification company. The auditors fociused on the area of support processes, especially their development and monitoring, and they visited various production operations to check how the theoretically documented principles are put into practice. As the chief auditor Pavel Hornik stated, they did not discover any area or process diplaying serious deviations from the point of view of fulfillment of the requirements prescribed for certification. He acknowledged the Company's systematic approach towards the achievement of environmental goals in terms of time and equipment as required by European legislation as well as innovative projects in this field.
Third Gala Evening for long-serving employees
Last Friday, November 21, saw the third in the series of gala evenings for this year's USSK employees celebrating long service at the Kosice steelworks. This meeting intended for acknowledging those who have worked for the Company for 30, 35, 40 and 45 years now involved invitees an their partners from the Hot Rolling Mill, Cold Rolling Mill and Radiators and pipes divisions and the subsidiaries U. S. Steel Labortest, s.r.o., U. S. Steel Services, s r.o. and RMS, a.s. Kosice. Attending the occasion to thank them for their long years of work and enjoy a pleasant evening together were U. S. Steel Kosice President George F. Babcoke, Vice Presidents, General Managers, Division Directors, subsidiary company managers and labor union leaders.
