Publications » Position papers » Analysis and comments on Commission Draft Delegated Act for technical screening criteria for climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation concerning manufacture of iron and steel
Analysis and comments on Commission Draft Delegated Act for technical screening criteria for climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation concerning manufacture of iron and steel
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On 20 November the European Commission launched a public consultation (duration: 4 weeks) on the first two sets of criteria for determining which economic activities can qualify as environmentally sustainable, under the EU's Taxonomy. These first two sets of criteria included in the published Delegated Act focus on climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation.
The Delegated Act builds on the recommendations of the Technical Expert Group on Sustainable Finance (TEG) formulated in their final report of March 2020. However, the Commission made a number of substantial changes to the calibration of technical screening criteria in order to better align with the requirements for technical screening criteria set out in the Taxonomy Regulation, notably Article 19. The Commission retained criteria that were considered to be consistent with EU legislation, reflect a high level of environmental ambition, promote a level playing field, and be easy for economic operators and investors to use.
Certain additional activities for climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation have been included while some others that need further analysis have been momentarily removed.
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Brussels, 11 September 2025 – The lack of a solution for steel in the EU-U.S. trade negotiations, the ongoing unpredictability of the global geoeconomic situation, and persistently weak demand against an ever-growing global steel overcapacity are squeezing the European steel market. In 2025, the outlook points to stagnation, with potential recovery only in 2026 — conditional on improvements in the global economy and an easing of trade tensions. According to EUROFER’s latest Economic and Steel Market Outlook, another recession both in apparent steel consumption (-0.2%, revised upwards from -0.9%) and in steel-using sectors (-0.7%, revised downwards from -0.5%) is confirmed for 2025. Growth prospects are now delayed at least to 2026, with projections of a rebound for both apparent steel consumption (+3.1%) and steel-using sectors (+1.8%). However, steel imports continue to hold historically high market shares (25%) in 2025.
Third quarter 2025 report. Data up to, and including, first quarter 2025
Brussels, 10 September 2025 – Reacting to today’s State of the Union Address delivered by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Axel Eggert, Director General of the European Steel Association (EUROFER) said: