The European Confederation of Iron and Steel Industries (EUROFER) has prepared a manifesto aimed at raising awareness of the steel industry's important role in the EU's economy and prosperity, for the attention of candidates in the European Parliament elections due to take place on June 4-7, 2009.
"The European steel industry is a world leader in its sector: its annual revenues total more than 200 billion euros, it directly employs 420,000 people and it produces more than 200 million tonnes of steel per year. More than 500 steel production sites in 22 EU member states provide direct and indirect employment and a living for millions of European citizens," states the manifesto.
In its "Manifesto of the European steel industry for Members of the European Parliament 2009-2014," EUROFER has urged the European Parliament to promote EU climate change policies that ensure a level playing field for European steelmakers with competitors from non-EU countries; to seek EU support for R&D in new technologies to reduce emissions from steelmaking and to utilize steel more effectively; to support "better regulation" by reducing the administrative and financial burden of European environmental legislation, whilst improving the levels of environmental protection; to secure competitive energy prices in Europe; to take vigorous action to secure open markets and strictly enforce EU trade laws in order to ensure fair competition from non-EU countries; and to establish an effective EU strategy to secure access to raw materials.
"The European Parliament should only adopt legislation that preserves the international competitiveness of European steel companies, and it should react firmly against restrictions and distortions by non-EU countries in international steel trade and markets. At its heart, any European policy must secure an international level playing field for the European steel industry," states the manifesto.