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26 February 2026 at 07:05 pm IST
On February 26, 2026, representatives of the European steel industry urged the European Union to include steel in the bloc’s upcoming “Made in Europe” industrial policy initiative, arguing that priority rules for locally produced materials should extend to low-carbon steel to support the sector’s decarbonisation efforts. The call comes as the EU prepares the Industrial Accelerator Act, designed to prioritise use of locally manufactured products when public funds are used. The policy — expected to be formally proposed in early March 2026 — currently targets strategic sectors such as batteries, solar and wind energy, hydrogen production, nuclear power, and electric vehicles. However, steel is not clearly included in the draft proposal, prompting concern from industry advocates and associations. Axel Eggert, Director General of Eurofer (the European Steel Association), stressed that if the EU truly aims to accelerate investment in decarbonisation technologies, steel — especially low-carbon steel — must be part of the priority list. He also called for a narrow definition of “local” to include only nearby EU neighbours with compatible industrial standards, such as the United Kingdom and Norway, while excluding regions like the Middle East, North Africa, India, and Vietnam, which are seen as sources of excess capacity and slower decarbonisation progress. The disagreement over geographic scope has already delayed the proposal’s roll-out. Industry groups argue that harmonising procurement preferences with partners that maintain similar environmental and labour standards would boost competitiveness and prevent overcapacity from undermining EU climate and economic goals. The outcome of these discussions will shape how the EU supports its industrial base while advancing sustainability objectives in strategic supply chains.
