Memo: Steel: High-Level Roundtable Recommendations to improve competitiveness

European steelmakers are currently facing extremely challenging economic conditions, but new opportunities are opening up for the steel industry through emerging industrial applications in traditional or technology-based industries, such as construction and renewable energy.

The High-Level Roundtable on steel – a platform for dialogue between industry, trade unions and the European Commission - adopted Recommendations on 12 February 2013 to help create the right framework for the European steel sector to maintain its long-term competitiveness in an increasingly global context. These concrete proposals, to be considered by the Commission, Member States and the industry over the few next years, include measures on trade, raw materials, legislation costs, climate change, energy, environment, employment and research and development.

Following the dialogue with stakeholders, the Commission will, by June 2013, prepare an Action Plan for the European Steel Industry aiming to help the steel sector confront the current situation and foster innovation, growth and employment within this sector.