High-Level Panel debate: The future of EU industry – Media partnership with EUROFER & EURACTIV
Is there a future for the EU (steel) industry? That was the topic of yesterday’s high-level panel debate organised by The European Steel Association (EUROFER) and Euractiv in Brussels (Townhall Europe). A combined 900 participants (live and virtual) listened to very lively and interventions by Maroš Šefčovič, Kurt Vandenberghe, Henrik Adam, Wadia Fruergaard, Sigrid de Vries, Tim Di Maulo and Peter Tom Jones. Even Monty Python’s Life of Brian was part of the show!
Thank you to all who joined us, and to our panellists. Here are the key takeaways from our speakers:
🔸Maroš Šefčovič from European Commission:
“The European economy of the future has to be built here in Europe. We have to maintain a strong industrial base, ensure the resilience of our value chain, and we need and must strengthen our strategic autonomy.”
🔸MEP Cristian Busoi from European Parliament:
“I think that we need an industrial deal that complements the Green Deal: more focused on competitiveness, more pragmatic solutions, maybe readjust some of the intermediary targets, and give more concrete support to some of our industries such as the steel industry.”
🔸Kurt Vandenberghe from European Commission:
“I fully agree that we need a true industrial strategy to succeed because decarbonisation is an opportunity and a necessity – it is not a threat. Without decarbonisation, without an ambitious climate agenda – there will not be an industrial strategy.”
🔸Dr. Henrik Adam from Tata Steel and The European Steel Association (EUROFER):
“The transition to green and clean wouldn’t be possible without steel.To conserve and to grow our wealth, our prosperity, our economies in Europe, I think we need to have the right mix of services but also of industrial production where steel is, was and will be the core element of choice for designer engineers around the world.”
🔸Timoteo Di Maulo from Aperam and The European Steel Association (EUROFER):
“There are a lot of inconsistencies between what is the direction which we fully endorse and what is the need of the industry to be supported, while we find in our competitors very good policies.”
🔸Sigrid de Vries from European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA):
“Europe’s auto makers are making a seismic shift towards electric mobility. But we also face fierce global competition and rising costs of doing business in Europe. The EU now needs a robust industrial strategy for its auto industry, matching the might of China and the US.”
🔸Wadia Fruergaard from Vestas:
“To meet demand for the ambitious EU climate goals we need to dramatically increase the deployment of renewable projects. As a starting point, we must ensure that the clean energy market fosters competition on a level playing field and we scale resilient supply chains that demonstrate value, quality and security.”
🔸Dr. Peter Tom Jones from SIM2 KU Leuven:
“A new world order is upon us, marked by resource nationalism, protectionism, deglobalisation, with liberal democracy on the wane. In response to China’s expansionist Belt & Road Initiative and the US’ Inflation Reduction Act, Europe needs to find its own answer. Our mission is clear: forge a long-term strategy, targeting made-in-Europe, vertically-integrated, de-siloed, mine-to-cleantech value chains.”