On January 12, the European Confederation of Iron and Steel Industries (EUROFER) released its "Manifesto of the European Steel Industry" for the period 2010-2014, which outlines the vital role that the European steel industry plays in the supply and value chain of the European economy. In the document, EUROFER calls on the new European Commission (EC) to set the right framework conditions for the sustainable development of the European steel sector.
Accordingly, the EUROFER asks the commission to ensure a level playing field with non-EU competitors in climate change policies, explaining that the emerging economies alone account for more than 60 percent of global CO2 emissions from steelmaking. Until an international agreement provides for equal, verifiable and enforceable CO2 reduction objectives, EUROFER states that the European Union Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading System (EU ETS) must continue to allocate 100 percent of emissions allowances free of charge to sectors at risk of carbon leakage, based on achievable benchmarks. The EU must also compensate for the ETS-related increase in electricity costs and, in addition, provide for border adjustment, if necessary, reads the manifesto. In order to help reduce emissions, EUROFER also requests the EC to provide more support for research and development in breakthrough technologies.
Furthermore, EUROFER urges the EC to take vigorous action to secure open markets and strictly enforce EU trade laws in order to ensure fair competition from non-EU countries. According to the manifesto, the European trade defense laws and practices must be used to their fullest extent against dumped and subsidized products if the EU steel industry and, as a result, the European economy are not to suffer potentially irreparable damage.
The EUROFER also requests secure competitive energy prices in Europe comparable to those available to competitors outside the EU. The quick implementation of the Third Energy Package is said to be needed in order to liberalize the European energy markets and to encourage the expansion of trans-European energy networks.
Finally, EUROFER emphasizes the importance of establishing an effective EU strategy for access to raw materials. The EC should develop its communication on ‘The Raw Materials Initiative' into an integrated strategy, where the priority must be given to the establishment of a level playing field for access to metallurgical raw materials in the EU's trade policy as well as in the framework of the EU's external relations with third countries, according to EUROFER.