Steel industry: Scholz proposes European steel summit

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) also wants to work at EU level to strengthen the ailing steel industry. The Federal Chancellor is committed to a timely European steel summit, said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit after a national steel summit in Berlin. Scholz met with industry representatives, works councils and unions.

The federal government advocated to the EU Commission that important relief instruments for the steel industry remain in place or be improved, as it was said. The Commission must act decisively when it comes to distortions of competition through dumping and market-distorting subsidies. The EU authority must examine further trade policy protection measures for the steel sector.

Union speaks of a “show summit”

Scholz also confirmed plans by the red-green federal government to reduce network fees and thus relieve energy-intensive companies of their electricity costs. However, after the traffic light failed, red-green no longer has a majority in the Bundestag.

The economic policy spokeswoman for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Julia Klöckner, spoke of a “show summit” in the Chancellery. “The Restampel no longer has a majority and can no longer implement anything on its own.”

IG Metall demands results

Jürgen Kerner, second chairman of IG Metall, said that the union and works councils pointed out the tense situation in the steel companies at the meeting in the Chancellery. “Ten thousand employees have demonstrated in the past for the climate-neutral restructuring of the steel industry and now feel left alone.” The federal government’s planned cap on electricity network fees at three cents is a correct first step, but should not be implemented until the next government. “We now need an internationally competitive electricity price,” said Kerner.