About a hundred representatives of the European manufacturing industry gathered in Brussels in front of the Berlaymont, the headquarters of the European Commission, for the demonstration “European convoy for industrial competitiveness.” The initiative was organized by Eurometal, the organization that brings together European companies in the distribution, processing, and production of steel, and starting from the Schuman roundabout brought ten trucks loaded with empty coffins right under the EU executive headquarters: a way to represent the production capacity and know-how that, according to the organizers, Europe risks losing. Upon arrival, the protesters honked their horns for several minutes.
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The requests
The president of Eurometal, Alexander Julius, explained the meaning of the protest: European producers already bear the costs of carbon emissions, trade defense measures, and tariffs, while many imported manufactured products enter the EU market without equivalent obligations. For this reason, he said, equal competition rules for everyone are needed, not subsidies. The same concept was reiterated by Franco Felisa, CEO of Trancerie Emiliane and president of Esn: “We do not ask for aid, tax breaks, or financing but we need clear rules that allow us to compete globally, first and foremost here in Europe.”
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The Cbam issue
The demonstration was also attended by Elena Donazzan, MEP from Brothers of Italy and vice-chair of the ITRE committee of the European Parliament. According to Donazzan, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism currently protects only steel as a primary product, leaving out downstream goods in the supply chain, on which 13.6 million workers in the steel-related sector depend. Donazzan cited a price differential of 80% between a Chinese semi-finished product and the corresponding European one. The industrialists’ request is therefore to extend Cbam protection to the entire supply chain and to introduce Made in Europe criteria, without resorting to direct subsidies.
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