"The European steel industry is at a critical juncture. Global overcapacity, unfair trade practices and the recent introduction of new US tariffs on steel and aluminium are compounding long-term structural challenges. Rising energy costs, falling demand and intensifying geopolitical tensions have put enormous pressure on the sector, putting jobs and industrial capacity at risk. Production has collapsed, factories are closing and tens of thousands of workers have already lost their jobs..." states the opinion of IndustriAll Europe, which was issued on 15 May.
In it, IndustriAll stresses the need for short-term support to protect workers during restructuring and calls for a SURE 2.0 mechanism to provide economic security for workers and reskilling/upskilling programmes.
The EU Action Plan for Steel and Metals, approved in March 2025, is seen by European trade unionists as a first step, but it does not fully address the crisis. Concrete social measures should follow and management should also assume its responsibilities.
"To stabilise and develop the sector, the EU and the Member States must put in place stimulus packages for sustainable industrial production with strong social conditions linked to all public funds. These economic stimulus packages must also ensure investment in improving withering infrastructure (roads, railways, energy networks and systems, etc.). In addition, the current EU fiscal framework needs to be reviewed to make room for important public investment in strategic sectors such as steel and base metals in all Member States. We also insist that any public funds allocated to the sector should be subject to negotiations with trade unions," the statement continues.
IndustriAll Europe remains fully committed to working with policymakers and employers to secure the future of European steel and workers in the sector.
Juraj Varga , Chairman of RO OZ KOVO U. S. Steel Košice, commented on the statement: "We have assessed that at this stage it is more appropriate to act independently than in cooperation with the Eurofer employers' association. The final statement of IndustriAll also included the comments of OZ KOVO. The statement was issued in the context of the upcoming meeting date of the EU Social Dialogue Committee on Steel."
