Join us on March 25 at 10:00 AM for a critical discussion on the current state of the European steel transition.
About this event
**Details for remote participation will be provided closer to the event**
2025 is a critical year for Europe’s steel sector. The Clean Industrial Deal was presented in February and the Steel and Metals Action Plan (SMAP), which will directly address the steel sector, is expected to be published on 19 March.
In this context, The State of the European Steel Transition is a report signed by a wide range of civil society organisations that aims to inform the policy debate and guide the transition towards a more sustainable steel industry – one that can meet Europe’s climate goals while safeguarding this vital economic sector.
Join us on the 25 March at the Press Club in Brussels for a hybrid panel discussion exploring the EU SMAP and outlining recommendations for priority policy interventions.
With its in-depth data, including findings from a new European Steel Plant database developed with SteelWatch, our report provides an overview of the existing stock of steel plants across EU member states, including blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) and electric arc furnace (EAF) facilities and emerging decarbonisation projects. It evaluates plans for reinvesting in or transitioning these plants to near-zero emission processes, identifies the companies that own critical assets, and summarises EU member state efforts to financially support the transition to date.
It highlights key enabling conditions to accelerate and smooth the EU steel transition over the next five years including the build out of renewable energy and near-zero emission infrastructure, improving material efficiency and circularity, enhancing recycling, ensuring just transition frameworks, fostering lead markets, and increasing the role of private finance in supporting early-stage commercialisation.
Additionally, it emphasizes the narrowing window for policy and investment decisions, as over half of blast furnaces are due for reinvestment or retirement by 2035. Given rising geopolitical risks, the phase-out of free EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) allowances by 2034, and increasing global competition in green steel production, urgent policy action is needed to secure a resilient and competitive European steel industry.
This event is organised by E3G and Beyond Fossil Fuels with the support of the European Climate Foundation.
For more information, please contact Catherine Joppart, Communications Consultant for E3G, Catherine.joppart@e3g.org
