Hosted by ArcelorMittal Europe CEO Geert Van Poelvoorde, we discussed the state of the steel industry in Europe with Mrs Teresa Ribera, the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition and Mr Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy. We were also delighted to welcome the Prime Minister of Belgium, Alexander de Croo, Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele , the Mayor of Gent Mathias De Clercq, Alderman Sofie Bracke and a number of other guests.  

Together with other steelmakers in Europe, in recent months we have spoken out on a number of issues that are profoundly affecting our ability to competitively produce steel in Europe today: a record high in steel imports, driven by significant global overcapacity and weak trade defence; high energy costs; and climate policy that does not currently provide the level playing field we need, at a time when we need to invest significant capital to decarbonise our steelmaking assets. 

We would like to thank the Commissioners for coming to listen to us today. Putting the steel sector on their agendas for the first week in their new role is a positive sign and we hope that that this is the start of impactful change that will give us the sustainable future that we want for our European operations.