Europe celebrates Steel Day

The fortieth anniversary of the European Iron and Steel Association Eurofer is celebrated as part of the European Steel Day. The slogan of this year's event - “Building the future as strong as steel” - shows the strategic importance of steel for the EU economy.

Geert Van Poelvoorde, CEO of Eurofer, said in his speech: “Our priorities are to cope with global overcapacity - in China in particular, to improve European trade, to resist the status of a market economy in China, as it does not meet these criteria. Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), creating a circular economy model in Europe, taking into account the properties of steel, which is 100 percent recyclable. "

Chinese steel imports to Europe have increased 120 percent since 2013. In addition, the EU is trying to defend itself, but unsuccessfully, Poelvoorde pointed out, noting the difference in approaches to this problem in the EU and the US: Americans impose 266 percent of taxes, and the EU imposes 13-16 percent. “European steel is competitive, provided the market is fair play,” emphasized Gert van Poelvoorde.

He recalled that the metallurgical industry creates 1.3 percent of the EU's GDP. He said that every euro of steel products creates an additional demand of 3.1 euros, of which 2.1 euros goes to other suppliers. “The situation is serious. The metallurgical industry in all countries is currently going through difficult times. We need real support from representatives of international governments who influence the profitability of their steel sector, ”concluded Gert van Poelvoorde.

According to the German Steel Institute, every job in the metallurgical industry creates 6.7 jobs in other and other industries. At the same time, the European steel industry has lost 85,000 jobs since 2008, of which 7,000 in the last year, mostly in the UK.