Brussels, 26 February 2026 — Europe’s steel industry has warned that the current draft Industrial Accelerator Act could direct public support for low-carbon steel to producers outside the European Union, unless lawmakers include and tighten ‘Made in Europe’ provisions.

The current draft European Commission proposal requires a share of at least 25% of steel in public procurement and support schemes to be low-carbon. However, it does not include a binding requirement that the steel be produced in Europe.

Welcoming the draft Act’s objective of creating demand for low-carbon steel, which the steel industry recognises is essential to unlock investment, Axel Eggert, Director General of EUROFER, said, ‘Steel underpins Europe’s clean energy, automotive and defence industries. In today’s turbulent geopolitical context, it seems unthinkable that the steel industry is not being defined as strategic in the package. This goes hand in hand with strengthening Europe’s autonomy which means applying robust “Made in Europe” requirements.’

He further remarked, “The EU must seize this opportunity to create conditions that encourage lead markets that give preference to European low-carbon steel. Only steel melted and poured in the EU should therefore qualify. EEA countries - Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway - could be also included in the scope, given their deep integration into the EU market. Without clear and ambitious “Made in Europe” rules for steel, and with an overly broad or unrestricted interpretation of origin, the European Commission risks financing green steel production from abroad instead of strengthening its own industrial base.’’

EUROFER argues that decarbonising European production already requires tens of billions of euros in investment. At the same time, persistently high electricity prices add significantly to the operational costs of new low-carbon technologies. Without guarantees that new lead markets will favour European production, investment decisions could be delayed or redirected.

EUROFER is therefore calling for: a clear and enforceable definition of Made in Europe for the steel sector, based on steel melted and poured in the EU and EEA; the application of both low-carbon and European origin criteria in in Industrial Accelerator Act; and the explicit recognition of steel as a strategic sector.

Notes for editors

Contact
David French, Spokesperson and Head of Communications, +32 2 738 79 35, (d.french@eurofer.eu)

About the European Steel Association (EUROFER)
EUROFER AISBL is located in Brussels and was founded in 1976. It represents the entirety of steel production in the European Union. EUROFER members are steel companies and national steel federations throughout the EU. The major steel companies and national steel federation of Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom are associate members.

The European Steel Association is recorded in the EU transparency register: 93038071152-83.

About the European steel industry
The European steel industry is a world leader in innovation and environmental sustainability. It has a turnover of around €215 billion and directly employs around 298,000 highly-skilled people, producing on average 146 million tonnes of steel per year. More than 500 steel production sites across 22 EU Member States provide direct and indirect employment to millions more European citizens. Closely integrated with Europe’s manufacturing and construction industries, steel is the backbone for development, growth and employment in Europe.

Steel is the most versatile industrial material in the world. The thousands of different grades and types of steel developed by the industry make the modern world possible. Steel is 100% recyclable and therefore is a fundamental part of the circular economy. As a basic engineering material, steel is also an essential factor in the development and deployment of innovative, CO2-mitigating technologies, improving resource efficiency and fostering sustainable development in Europe.